Distinguished Alumni
Karey Patterson Bresenhan
Awarded 1998
In 1963, Karoline (Karey) Patterson had just finished her journalism degree at Sam Houston State and was working as an editorial assistant for the Texas Medical Association. Soon to wed Maurice Bresenhan, she attended a quilting bee with relatives and friends who were making her a wedding quilt.
She later worked for the Huntsville school district, for the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, received a master's degree in journalism from the University of Texas, and worked as editor of several publications. From 1970-74 she worked for Ruder & Finn Public Relations, and was named the company's vice-president, becoming the first woman from a regional office to hold that position.
She won a primary election for the Texas House of Representatives, but lost the general election.
In 1974, more than 10 years after getting hooked on quilting, she opened the Great Expectations Quilt Shop in Houston, which has grown to one of the largest quilt shops in the world.
She has increased her involvement in the $1.5 billion quilting industry as president of Quilts, inc., director of the International Quilt Market, International Quilt Festival, European Quilt Market, Quilt Expo, A Victorian Romance and Embellishment.
In 1997, The Houston Business Journal named Quilts, Inc. as one of the city's "Top 50 Women-Owned Businesses."
Her leadership in and promotion of quilting has not gone unnoticed among quilters. She is a co-founder of the International Quilt Association, founding director of The Alliance for American Quilts, a co-founder of the Quilt Guild of Greater Houston, and a founder of the Texas Quilt Association.
The Quilters Hall of Fame inducted her into its prestigious honor roll in 1995. She has also received the San Antonio Conservation Award and the Round Top Award "in recognition of leadership in reviving and sustaining interest in the American art of quilting."
Using the communication skills she began developing at Sam Houston State, she has written several quilting-related books and publishes more than 100 informational/promotional publications each year.
Ms. Bresenhan is a fifth generation Texas quilter and an acknowledged expert on quilt dating. She has served as a quilt appraiser and quilt contest judge. She is a director of the Texas Quilt Project to document the state's quilt heritage and was one of the organizers and sole quilt documentor for the Texas Quilt Search.
Her personal quilt collection includes family quilts, rare antique quilts, and quilts made especially for her. In addition, her company has a fine corporate quilt collection that is open for tours monthly by advance reservation.
As profiled at the October 30, 1998 Distinguished Alumni Banquet