By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Welcome home Dr Paul Modrich, Raton native and now a Nobel Prize Laureate. Modrich traveled back to Raton this week to be greeted by signs and well wishes from his many Raton classmates that are still around town.
Modrich won a Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his research on how DNA repairs or prevents mutations from forming into cancer cells. On Thursday Raton and the State of New Mexico will honor Modrich with a proclamation proclaiming May 19, 2016 as Paul Modrich Day in honor of his Nobel Prize.
Modrich sat down for a few minutes Tuesday and told KRTN that as a boy he became interested in science in Raton. That his teachers and community were encouraging. He found it to be a very positive environment. Modrich went on to say that he didnt feel that as he came from a small town that he was restricted as some often think. He noted that when he was growing up there wasn’t much TV and he and his friends had to learn to entertain themselves. He went to say that he felt “play for young people is essentially analogous to creativity in adults thats when children exercise their imagination.”
Modrich will give the keynote address at the Raton High graduation ceremony Friday evening. He eluded to letting graduates know that they too can do many things in life.
Modrich who still thinks of Raton as home says he feels welcome here and that he is comfortable when he is here. Modrich added, ” I have always regarded Raton as my home.” “I am happiest here I think of anywhere.”
