Good evening. My first words I want to say is to thank The Paleontological Society for their decision to recognize the work of Hector Porras as an amateur paleontologist. I met Hector in 2003 when he started as assistant manager of the Historic Museum of Muzquiz. We shared the two-story building, the museum was on the first floor, and on the second floor the State Institute of Teaching and Education Investigation development where I am General Coordinator
In time, I learned of Hector’s liking for fossils and I realized how big his passion was—fossils occupied most of his time—so I had to do something to help him. I watched him create a scientific collection, with much effort and no resources or financial support. Without academic preparation, driven only by his passion, he created a synergy with paleontologists and national and international universities, convincing quarrymen and property owners to do regulated extraction of fossils. Hector did not even have a computer, so I offered him use of one in the teacher center, and it was the daily coexistence that made me value more and more his efforts to generate knowledge and contribute to science.
We started projects together, created agreements with universities, and consolidate goals, all focused on Muzquiz’s fossils that he studied. He knows that pieces are important and demonstrated this through his studies. One achievement, among others, is that the Mexican Government built a Paleontology Museum in Muzquiz. His major satisfaction is supporting students interested in paleontology, for them to conduct research and conclude their majors and/or PhDs with Muzquiz material. His love for paleontology has built in Hector an inherent commitment to science and he continually is looking for ways to contribute to it. I am certain there will be many more achievements now and in the future.
