Regarding creationist Don Patton -
Hangdawg writes:
He also spent 4 years studying geology at Peay State University TN and Indiana University/Purdue University, Indianapolis IN
He worked as a geologist in the US, Canada, Australia, England, Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. He participated in dinosaur excavations in Colorado, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, and Canada.
I see you didn't read the article on Carl Baugh's bogus degrees, or you would have seen the section on his buddy Don Patton's bogus degrees. Here's an excerpt from what Glen Kuban wrote regarding creationist Don Patton (the article is copyright 1989 by Glen Kuban, and is found at
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy/degrees.html):
Don Patton's Alleged Credentials
Since early 1989, Don Patton, a close associate of Carl Baugh and leader of Metroplex Institute of Origins Science (MIOS) near Dallas, has claimed a Ph.D. (or "Ph.D. candidacy") in geology from Queensland Christian University in Australia.[33] However, QCU is another unaccredited school linked to Clifford Wilson. [34] When questioned about this at a recent MIOS meeting, Patton indicated that he was aware of some problems relating to QCU, and was withdrawing his Ph.D. candidacy.[35]
However, the printed abstracts of the 1989 Bible-Science conference in Dayton, Tennessee (where Patton gave two talks) stated that he was a Ph.D. candidacy in geology, and implied that he has at least four degrees from three separate schools.[36] When I asked Patton for clarification on this during the conference, he stated that he had no degrees, but was about to receive a Ph.D. degree in geology, pending accreditation of QCU, which he assured me was "three days away."[37] Many days have since passed, and Patton still has no valid degree in geology. Nor is the accreditation of QCU imminent. Australian researcher Ian Plimer reported, "PCI, QPU, PCT, and PCGS have no formal curriculum, no classes, no research facilities, no calendar, no campus, and no academic staff....Any Ph.D. or Ph.D. candidacy at QPU by Patton is fraudulent."[38]"
I've included the footnotes, since most of the same alleged degrees mentioned by Hangdawg are refuted there.
[33] Patton made this claim at some MIOS meetings attended by Ron Hastings. A video tape distributed by MIOS in 1989 stated that Patton had a doctorate degree in geology, although MIOS leaders later told Hastings that this was an error, and that they meant to state that Patton was a "Ph.D candidate" (Ron Hastings, communication).
[34] Plimer, Ian, FAX transmission from Australia, August 14, 1989.
[35] Hastings, Ron, personal communication, August 1989.
[36] Bryan '89, National Conference on Biblical Origins, August 10-12, 1989, at Bryan College, Dayton, Tennessee, sponsored by the Bible-Science Association and Bryan College, printed program and abstracts, p. 20. The program stated (misspelling Patton's name): "Mr. Patton received degrees from Florida College, Tampa, Florida, and he also received a degree in Geology from Austin Peay in Tennessee and from Indiana State University. He is in the final step of obtaining his doctoral degree from Queensland University in Australia." The person introducing Patton before his talk corrected the misspelling of Patton's name but not the errors regarding his degrees.
[37] Personal communication, Don Patton, August 12, 1989. Patton made what I consider his most revealing comment when I asked him whether he thought misrepresenting credentials in general was a serious matter. Patton replied that to him it was not, since it is a matter of "buyer beware." (Evidently he considers the public to be "buyers"). Buyer beware indeed!
[38] See reference 34.
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However much Patton claims to have studied geology, he apparently doesn't have any degrees in the field. The education PhD he alleges to have is from a so-called "university" set up by his creationist colleague, Clifford Wilson.
Despite not having a Ph.D. in geology, Patton hands out business cards which read:
_MAZADA CORPORATION_
DON R. PATTON, PH.D
Consulting Geologist
813 Trails Parkway
Garland, TX 75043 (214)279-5325
Pretty misleading, huh? This is an old card, the area code may have changed by now.
I've been to Glen Rose, I've seen the dino tracks at Dinosaur Valley and at the McFall site. There are no fossil "mantracks" there. There aren't fossil "womantracks" either, despite Carl Baugh's claims.
Hangdawg writes:
He is presently a consulting geologist and partner in Mazada Corp. Dallas Tx, staff geologist at a museum at Glenn Rose, TX, Chairman of Metroplex Insititue of Origiin Science.
The "museum" is creationist Carl Baugh's Creation Evidences Museum: when I last visited, it was a double-wide trailer with a few fossils, a creationist mural, a hyperbaric chamber with some poisonous snakes, an aquarium, and a cheap audio range oscilloscope to make the whole shebang appear scientific to the gullible fundamentalists that make up the bulk of the audience.
The "Metroplex Institute of Origin Science" is simply a monthly meeting of Young-Earth creationists at whatever facility they can schedule, since the "Institute" doesn't have its own building; they used to meet at a recreation center near White Rock Lake in Dallas, but lately they've been meeting at a medical office building after work hours.
Hangdawg writes:
He was a member of the Geological Society of America and was a speaker at their '97 annual convention Salt Lake City. He has lectured at seven universities as well has numerous public debates.
As for membership in that fine organization, the Geological Society of America, you, too, can be a member - just send your membership fee of $65 or $30, depending on membership type. You don't even have to be a geologist (degreed or make-believe) to join, as long as you have $30. Join at
404
I see that Patton
"was" a member, according to your post - is that because he paid his 30$ or so for one year, then stopped?
I suppose if I talk to someone while on a campus, I can be said to have "lectured" there. Wow, I've lectured at at least 7 universities too! And since I've argued in public with several creationists, I've "lectured at numerous public debates", too! See how that creationist doublespeak works?
Now, all I have to do is send 30$ to GSA, print up some misleading business cards, pick up a rock and look at it for signs of dinosaurs whenever I travel by car through several states or travel abroad (to be involved in "dinosaur excavations"), and I can be a "PhD" on par with Patton! Oops, I don't have any bogus degrees, though. Blasted accreditation! I guess I could send money to one of Clifford Wilson's unaccredited diploma mills...
Nah.
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