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“The significance of Dr. Patton's generous gift to
Western cannot be overstated. She has truly made her mark
and has left a research center that will contribute to the
preservation of the mountain environment far into the future.
Western is sincerely appreciative of Dr. Patton's faith in
this institution and her willingness to share the fruits of
her hard work and her passion with the young people who will
be the environmental leaders of tomorrow.
- Chancellor John
W. Bardo, Western Carolina University
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Dr. Helen Patton,
a Mark Twain aficionado, at her 88th birthday celebration
with a Twain impersonator. (© Susan Roberts) |
“In your lifetime, you will meet a handful of truly
remarkable people. Dr. Helen Patton is such a person. She
is a woman of faith, an artist, a historian, a lover of nature,
a scholar and teacher, a generous benefactor, and a devoted
member of her family and community.”
- Dr.
Robert Vartabedian, dean of Western's College
of Arts and Sciences, from a speech given on the eve of
Dr. Patton's 88th birthday.
“Nature taught Miss Helen invaluable lessons of conservation,
recycling, and pleasure in the small things. This has given
her a wealth of knowledge to pass on to the many ‘students’
that look up to her and gain so much just by knowing her.”
- Susan Roberts,
assistant director, The Helen Patton Environmental Research
Center
“Dr. Helen Patton reflects the strong spirit of the land
and people of her region. She is fiercely protective of 'her'
land, the land of her family for generations, and passionately
committed to sharing its natural wealth with all those who would
learn from it.”
- Dr. Dan Perlmutter, assistant professor of biology,
Western Carolina University
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