Udall Commends NM Author Rudolfo Anaya on White House Humanities Honor

'Bless Me Ultima' author will receive National Humanities Medal from President Obama in White House ceremony Thursday

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall congratulated celebrated New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya, who will be honored with the National Humanities Medal on Thursday. Udall will be attending the ceremony at the White House. He delivered the following statement:

"This is a well-deserved honor for a treasured New Mexico storyteller. Great books captivate our attention and allow us to walk in the shoes of ordinary and extraordinary people, and Rudolfo Anaya's stories have touched the hearts of New Mexicans - and Americans across the country - for decades. The son of a vaquero, Anaya has honored New Mexico's Hispanic culture and traditions, especially through books like 'Bless Me Ultima' and stories like 'The Legend of La Llorona.' And through sharing our stories with the world, he has helped expand the understanding of our state's unique American experience.

"Anaya's work has educated, inspired and entertained generations of readers. But he has given back in many other ways, by sharing his love of learning as a teacher in Albuquerque and a faculty member at the University of New Mexico, and through his commitment to the state, the Albuquerque community and his native Santa Rosa. I'm honored to be attending tomorrow's ceremony to watch our own father of modern Chicano literature receive this important award."