NMDA Journal Summer 2019

12 New Mexico Dental Journal, Summer 2019 Examining Board. In addition to his many roles in the NMDA, Dr. Warren has served as a Delegate for the American Dental Asso- ciation. He was also appointed to the Relief Fund Committee of the American Dental Association. Moreover, Dr. Warren has been an active member of the local com- munity and alumnus of NMSU where he earned a Bachelor’s of Sci- ence in Biology in 1973. He has served as President of the NMSU Alumni Association, as a member of the NMSU Foundation Board, and as a member of the NMSU Aggie Sports Association. He and his wife, Reta K. Warren, created the David and Reta Warren Endowed Scholarship for NMSU students pursuing a degree in dentistry. He has also served on the local board of the American Heart Association, the board of directors for the Mesilla Valley Hospice Association, the Advisory Board for Wells Fargo Bank, and the Finance Committee for St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. It will surprise nobody to learn that in his free time, Dr. Warren enjoys golfing. Even more than golfing, he and his wife of 44 years, Reta, en- joy visiting their two daughters on the east coast, Jennifer and Katy, and their four grandchildren. Reta was also raised in New Mexico and has had her own impressive career as a Certified Public Accountant. Dr. Warren has always approached our professional associations with the same commitment as his practice, appreciating the importance of keeping up with changes and helping to shape the future of the profession. For these reasons he thoroughly enjoys his latest role mentoring his new partner Dr. Law, who is currently Past President of the NMDA. Dr. Warren is honored to be receiving this award and con- siders it a great privilege to continue growing his practice and serving the New Mexico Dental Association. So my advice to would-be leaders is this: • Don’t accept the world the way it is. Make it better in small ways. If everyone does that it will change in big ways. As Dr. Heber Simmons used to say,“Leave the woodpile a little higher than you found it.” • Look for heroes in everyone you see, but don’t worship themwhen you find them. Learn and be inspired. Fame is overvalued as both a measure of greatness and a goal. • Nurture your faith. Know your values and live by them. Respect and care for others. Be happy. • Take advice to heart, but always with a grain of salt, especially when it comes in idioms. DAVID WARREN Dr. Warren has always approached our professional associations with the same commitment as his practice, appreciating the importance of keeping up with changes and helping to shape the future of the profession. Dr. David D.Warren III has been practicing dentistry in Las Cruces for the past 40 years and has been serving his professional organizations almost as long. He was born and raised in Lordsburg, NMwhere he watched his father serve as an officer of the New Mexico Education Association and learned the importance of being involved in your profession at every level. He learned from his father that giving back to one’s profession is not only a responsibility, but also one of the real pleasures of work. Following this example, Dr. Warren is sincerely grateful for the experi- ences and genuine friends he has made in the New Mexico Dental Association, including his fellow honorees today. To this point, he was fortunate enough to join Dr. Charles F. Murrell’s practice upon graduating from the University of Missouri, Kansas City in 1978. Dr. Murrell, past president of the NMDA, also took association work seriously and from their first days working together invited Dr. War- ren to meetings. Dr. Bert Frederick, another past president of the association, was also an important mentor who set this positive ex- ample. As a new dentist, Dr. Warren served as President of the South- west District Dental Society. In 1988 Dr. Warren began practicing independently. In 2004, he built a new office and six years after that he hired Dr. Michael D. Law as an associate. While growing his practice, Dr. Warren has served the New Mexico Dental Association in virtually every capacity including Vice President, President Elect, President, and Past President. He has been chairman of the Political Action Committee, member of the Peer Re- view Committee, member of the Foundation Board, and member of the Mission of Mercy Committee. Most recently he served as the 1st Speaker of the House of Delegates of the New Mexico Dental Asso- ciation. He is also currently serving on the New Mexico Board of Den- tal Healthcare and is acting as an Examiner for the Western Regional  continued from page 11 The award is bestowed upon a NMDAmember for exceptional lifetime achievement, contributions to the profession and service to organized dentistry.