From “Fish to Gish” . . . to a Fond Wish

Dr. Duane Gish has announced his retirement at the age of 84 as the senior vice president of the Institute for Creation Research.

Dr. Duane Gish, creation’s best-known and most-formidable debater against evolutionists (almost 300 debates)—and internationally famous for telling audiences in about 40 countries that he doesn’t believe in the evolution story of “fish to Gish”—has announced his retirement at the age of 84 as the senior vice president of the Institute for Creation Research.

The six sister ministries of Answers in Genesis worldwide wish to thank him sincerely for his many decades of significant accomplishments in defending the creation account of Genesis.

For those of us who know Dr. Gish well, we realize he will never fully retire. Yes, he is now 84, but this “Energizer Bunny” (as many in the creation community affectionately call him) will still be semi-active. For example, he told AiG that he intends to update his classic book Evolution: The Fossils Still Say No! and will write a book on his specialty, biochemistry. (He will examine some of the so-called “origin of life” experiments conducted by evolutionists who have been trying to simulate life-by-chance in a laboratory.) His Ph.D. in biochemistry from the prestigious University of California at Berkeley uniquely qualifies him to write a book that will critically examine such “chemical evolution” theories. And yes, on occasion, he will accept a speaking engagement.

Dr. Duane T. Gish

Dr. Gish has a B.S. in chemistry from UCLA and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California (Berkeley). He spent a total of 18 years in biochemical research with Cornell University Medical College (NYC), with the Virus Laboratory, U. of Cal.-Berkeley and on the research staff of the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company (Michigan). He has published approximately 40 articles in scientific journals and is the author of several books on creation (including for young people). During WW II, Dr. Gish served in the Pacific.

Honors:
* Phi Beta Kappa
* Phi Sigma Upsilon
* Who’s Who in the West
* American Men of Science

Organizations:
* American Chemical Society
* Fellow: American Institute of Chemists
* American Association for the Advancement of Science

Mark Looy, vice president of outreach of AiG–US and a good friend of Dr. Gish for more than 30 years, calls him his “spiritual” godfather: “When I first heard Dr. Gish speak in 1971 or 1972, it dramatically changed my life. Even though I was attending a Christian school, I was a ‘baby’ Christian and having severe doubts about the Bible’s reliability. That was because of the evolutionary bombardment I was receiving through the media, museums and my former public school.

“But a 50-minute talk by Dr. Gish in the Los Angeles area completely changed my view of the accuracy and authority of Scripture. I am thus so grateful to this brilliant scientist and godly, Bible-believing man. And because of Dr. Gish’s influence, I have been involved in the creation ministry for almost 30 years now.”

Ken Ham, AiG–US president, added: “The ministry of AiG very much stands on the shoulders of a science giant like Dr. Gish—and his colleague, Dr. Henry Morris [ICR president emeritus]. Dr. Gish’s groundbreaking books and his hundreds of debates have played a major part in the resurgence of a belief in creation in America and beyond. We see some of the fruits of the Gish-Morris team in today’s ‘culture wars’ in the US—with the creation/evolution controversy being on the front lines of that war.”

We wish Dr. Gish and his wife, Lolly, the very best and God’s blessing as they slow down the pace in their lives and enjoy some leisurely travel (in fact, Dr. Gish will be flying out to speak to the AiG–US staff on May 17) but still be involved in his passion to proclaim the creation/gospel message.