Researcher helped New Mexicans understand deadly disease
UNM Vice President for Research and Economic Development Terry L. Yates has died after a brief illness. “It was his exuberance you remember most about Terry,” said UNM President David Schmidly. “He was one of the first graduate students I taught at Texas Tech in the mid-1970’s, and he was always ready to examine a new idea or take a trip to the field to explore a theory. I think he was happier out in the field than he was behind a desk.” Yates was 57 years old.
Yates was best known for his groundbreaking research on the source of Hantavirus, a serious respiratory disease that is frequently fatal. When people in the southwest began dying from an unknown viral disease in 1993, Yates worked with researchers from the National Centers for Disease Control to track down the cause.
Using specimens Yates had collected over the years and placed in the museum of Southwestern Biology, they were able to pinpoint a species of deer mice as the carrier of the Sin Nombre Virus. The National Science Foundation named research done by Yates and his collaborator Robert Parmeter on the Hanta Virus as one of its “Nifty 50” discoveries – projects funded that have had the biggest impact on the lives of Americans.
His most recently published paper explored the relationship between weather and deer mice populations. Yates and his co-authors were able to predict increased risk to humans in specific parts of the Four Corners area after studying satellite photos of vegetation growth. In 2006 his work gave the New Mexico Department of Public Health the scientific evidence it needed to give advance warning to New Mexicans living in certain areas of the state that that they faced an increased risk for exposure to hantavirus.
Yates was appointed Vice Provost for Research at UNM in 2001, and served as Vice President for Research and Economic Development from 2004 to the present. He was also the Curator of Genomic Resources for the Museum of Southwestern Biology at UNM, and a professor of biology and pathology, and he helped create the Long Term Ecological Research site near Socorro, used by UNM students involved in a wide variety of research projects.
Yates came to UNM in 1978 as an assistant professor of biology. During his tenure as vice-provost and vice-president for research, the total amount of research awards rose from $247 million to nearly $300 million.
He was a member of the Board of Life Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences, and an honorary member of the Society of Mammalogists, the highest honor that professional society bestows. He published 126 research papers in refereed outlets, and chaired 17 Ph.D. students. In August the UNM regents gave Yates a Regents Meritorious Service Award.
A memorial service to celebrate the life and work of Yates will be held on Friday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. in Popejoy Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UNM campus.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the Terry Yates Endowment for Field Mammalogy at the University of New Mexico. Please sent contributions to the Yates Endowment in care of the UNM Foundation, Inc., MSC07 4260, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; email: kwent2@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at December 12, 2007 09:09 AMTerry was a great friend and mentor to many. His influence will be missed in mammalogy.
Posted by: Peggy at December 12, 2007 09:20 AMTerry was a wonderful resource encouraging science and economic development in New Mexico. And overall just a vibrant and kind individual. He'll be greatly missed.
-Sue Vorenberg, Albuquerque Tribune science writer
Posted by: Sue Vorenberg at December 12, 2007 11:27 AMMentor, friend,... the words ring out empty without him to color them in. Just being alive was an adventure for Terry. He taught me to dance in the wilderness without cautioning me to
be careful, be realistic, and remember the limitations of being human. We sat together in long moments of shared solitude, taking the risk of being completely at peace. We set and kept the clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other. Let me risk remembering that we never stop silently loving those we once loved. My heart goes out to Nancy and family.
Twelve years ago today I was just getting off of five and a half days of ECMO treatment for HPV. We survivors know the importance of the work of Terry Yates. I subsequently met Terry when the Canadian Broadcasting Company came to New Mexico to make a short feature for their version of "Discovery". Terry's vitality seeped into us all. It was an honor to have him among us. With deep gratitude and sincerest condolences to his family and many close friends.
We were very saddened to hear of Terry's passing, he will be greatly missed
Posted by: Don and Carol Cecil at December 13, 2007 11:23 AMMore than just a great scientist & a tribute to UNM, Terry was the most generous person many of us have ever, and likely will ever, know. We are comforted to have a life filled with Terry memories and a vocabulary filled with Yates-isms. "Keep smiling!"
Posted by: Jerome & Alice Stewart at December 13, 2007 12:05 PMTerry and I started trapping for fun and profit in 1965 just barely legal to drive to the swampland of far western Kentucky. I understand his passion for biology, mammals, trapping, and adventure as well as anyone "on the planet" as he would say.
Part of me has just been removed.
A great mind and an even greater heart has been lost. Terry's memory will live on in all of us and his research will be forever known. We are all very fortunate to have known him. Nancy and family, my heart is with you.
Posted by: Dawn Cecil at December 13, 2007 11:21 PMTerry and Nancy were the first couple we met as graduate students at Texas A&M over 34 years ago. They have remained life-long friends since that time. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy and the boys, and our memories of Terry will last a lifetime.
Rodney and Dee Honeycutt
Terry Yates was one of the nicest people in the world and will be missed terribly; Nancy and their sons will always be in my prayers, and I wish them peace and beautiful memories.
I count it as a blessing that he will be memorialized on my birthday, because from now on, every Dec 14 will be a VERY special day for me to remember his life, legacy, and dedication.
God-speed, Terry...the Kentucky Derby will never be as exciting, and mint juleps will never be as sweet.
Posted by: Laura LaCour-Johnson at December 14, 2007 10:38 AMI was honored to know you and to share Our time together. Terry, I still have one question for you to answer, Is there Life after ?
Many blessings to Nancy, your Sons and the whole Family!
We are saddened to hear of Terry's passing and extend condolences to his family.
Terry, having known you was a real blessing. You will be missed, but Heaven just got a little better. Nancy, Brian, Michael, our hearts are with you. We Love you.
Posted by: Sona, Max, Wolf, Waite & John at December 14, 2007 06:07 PMNot enough words or time to express the many ways Terry touched our lives. "Happy Trails to you until we meet again!" We will always hold you in our hearts daily. Nancy, Brian, Michael and family....we are always here for you and treasure this very sweet friendship forever.
Love and heart hugs.
Terry was simply one of the most sincere and hard-working people I ever worked with. UNM has lost a tremendous asset.
Posted by: Max Kerlin at December 15, 2007 08:31 AMToby and I took Terry's Mammalogy class in 1994, which is where we fell in love with field research and each other. Terry holds a special place in our hearts for teaching us the passion and joys of field research, the adventures of travel to La Paz, Mexico, and for the persistence of pursuing basic science. He was a wonderful mentor and we will miss him tremendously. Our thoughts are very much with Nancy, Brian and Michael.
Posted by: Ellen Roots McBride & Toby McBride at December 16, 2007 08:40 PMI am saddened by the passing of Terry, and send my condolences from Argentina.
Posted by: Guillermo Abramson at December 17, 2007 03:11 PMWorking with Terry were some of the best memories of college for me. It was a pleasure to take his classes and work in the musuem. He will never be forgotten.
Posted by: Angela Adams at December 17, 2007 06:24 PMTerry Yates provided an example of how professionalism, service to community, a love of life and an enthusiasm for scientific quests could be combined in one individual. Terry will always be that great example.
Posted by: Ben & Carol Koop at January 30, 2008 05:48 PM