And the reason that was in today's San Francisco Chronicle is that when C. Thomas Patten was sent off to prison for three years for defrauding their followers ("the longest and most colorful trial" in county history), his wife kept things going. And she, Bebe Patten, died this week at 90. Her Patten University is in Oakland, CA, and the obituary quotes the regional accreditor as calling it, in 1998, "a model of diversity." Incidentally, Dr. Patten's only degree, per the university website, is a doctorate from "McKinley-Roosevelt" in Chicago, which appeared on the one and only official list of degree mills ever published by the U.S. Office of Education (1959-60).
Oh my gosh ... I grew up in the Bay Area. Man, that brings back some memories; used to hear about "Dr." Bebe Patten on KFAX (anyone remember that station?!). Well, there was another fellow named Roger Patzer on that same station back then. That guy was brilliant! But that's another story. Hmm! So, ol' Bebe finally gave up the ghost (and the degree mill designation), eh. Memories!
KFAX And they're going strong, virtually unchanged (from my non-Christian perspective anyway) in nearly half a century. www.kfax.com. In college, I used to listen to KXLA in Los Angeles, which reached San Francisco late at night -- the only country and western station around then -- which was right next to KFAX on the dial, and the signal sort of bounced back and forth. Bebe Patten and Tex Ritter. What a team.
The university website lists Patten as holding two doctorates, both honorary: DD, McKinley-Roosevelt Litt.D., Temple Hall College & Seminary
Re: Oh my gosh ... I too grew up in the Bay Area and it also brings back just a few memories. Wasn't it Patten Bible College at that time ? I don't know if they had any acceditation - unless it was from a bible college accreditor. It definitely was not WASC at that time.
Yeah, I think you're right, DL. It was Patten Bible College. That's been some years ago for me, though. Starkman