HAS LIFETIME MEMBER LELAND PATTERSON RECEIVES THC AWARD OF MERIT
Leland Patterson, HAS lifetime member and long-time avocational archeologist, received the Texas Historical Commission’s Award of Merit from Pat Mercado-Allinger, Archeology Division Director for the THC and Jeff Durst, THC Regional Archeologist at the April 17, 2014 meeting of the Houston Archeological Society.
In her remarks prior to presenting the award, Mercado-Allinger noted that Patterson had authored or co-authored 467 publications in local, state, regional and national journals and that archeological surveys conducted by him had resulted in recording over 150 prehistoric sites in Texas, Louisiana and Ohio. “I can’t think of another avocational archeologist in the State of Texas who deserves this more,” she said.
Leland Patterson(center) with Pat Mercado-Allinger
and Jeff Durst
Patterson served as President and Vice President of Houston Archeological Society and as Vice President of the Fort Bend Archeological Society. He is a current member of both organizations as well as the Texas Archeological Society, the Southern Texas Archaeological Association and the Society for American Archaeology.
Leland Patterson(center) with Pat Mercado-Allinger
and Jeff Durst
“Leland Patterson has undoubtedly given more professional credibility to the Houston Archeological Society than any other member,” said Linda Gorski, HAS President. “Among his 467 publications, he has contributed many of those to HAS periodicals including articles in 186 HAS Journals, 19 HAS Reports and 13 HAS Special publications. He is a legend in Texas archeology”.
Patterson is a retired chemical engineer whose last professional position was Manager of Environmental Affairs, Engineering, for Tenneco, Inc. After his retirement he did consulting work for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation for administration of cultural resource (archeological site) clearances on construction projects. Patterson recently moved to Bryan College Station from Houston and was accompanied to the awards ceremony by his daughter-in-law Jan Patterson.