No one builds a career in paleontology on their own, especially when that career involves collecting and describing specimens new to science. Thus, this is my humble attempt to say “thanks” to the literally hundreds of people that have played a part in advancing my career. These paragraphs are meant to be comprehensive, but surely fall short, so if I missed anyone, well, “thanks.”

First, my nuclear family—mom, dad, and Ben, encouraged and supported this whole crazy endeavor ever since they took me to the Field Museum in Chicago in 1976. None of it even gets off the ground without decades of their support.

Kristan has always supported my quest, enduring graduate school poverty, long absences, suboptimal field conditions, chronic absent-mindedness, righteous rants, lousy peer reviews, and all the other trials between tribulations.

Teachers and mentors at every step of the way were inspirational, challenging, supportive, and, in a word, essential. There are too many to name, but I’m still in touch with many of you, and I thank all of who demanded excellence.

Intellectually, I’m hugely indebted to Spencer Lucas in particular and the NMMNH generally. If I hadn’t moved to Albuquerque in August, 1993, I never would have seen half the outcrop or engaged in a quarter of the many projects I can claim in some way as my own. The University of New Mexico provided support and opportunities to build my resume as well, for which I am thankful.

Critically, the New Mexico Friends of Paleontology and other volunteers (and now, students) have provided not just the labor, but the friendship, intellectual curiosity, and encouragement to bring a career to fruition.

Obviously, funding from many different sources, including various pots of money at Appalachian, NMMNH, UNM, the Sandoval Endowment, SVP, NMFOP, and many others have made a critical impact on studies that otherwise just would not have happened.

Classmates all along have been vital—from the creative elementary exploration of McGuffey through the trials of a bunch of geeks and band jocks in public schools like Stewart and Talawanda to the liberal arts and self-discovery of Denison to the fun, if not always wholly functional, depredations of graduate students at UNM, every step of the way there have been friends whose encouragement, support, and flat-out crazy ideas were critical.

Similarly, there’s a bunch of lifting buddies (especially Bill at Denison and then the crowd at Waldo’s) and pickup basketballers who nurse the same athletic addictions that allow me to retain a modicum of sanity and, I hope, the fitness to keep returning to the field for a long time to come.

Now I’m at Appalachian, which has been very good to me (although, if you’re a dean or higher-ranking official, it could still be better!). I have the privilege of holding a good job in a great department at a fine university. Hopefully there will be many more accomplishments to celebrate and acknowledge in the future.