The title might suggest that Lyons studied for a doctorate at Cincinnati Baptist, but he did not. Nor did he study for the other two doctorates listed on the NBC Web site. The Doctor of Divinity degree from Cincinnati Baptist is an honorary one Lyons received in appreciation for his work as dean. The school, which was not accredited by any recognized agency, had no doctoral program. Like the honorary degree he received years later from Bethune-Cookman College, the degree from Cincinnati Baptist is purely symbolic.
Ministers routinely call themselves and each other doctor, though many lack even an honorary degree.
But a search of education resources turned up no evidence of such an institution. But the college has never given Lyons a degree, honorary or otherwise, registrar Rosalind Chaiken said. Hebrew Union offers a doctorate, but it is only for people studying to become rabbis. He was young, energetic, gifted and familiar with the city from his days at Gibbs Junior College. He was to move south in April, a month before commencement at Cincinnati Baptist.