MALTA (AP)
Paleontologist Nate Murphy, who made headlines when he discovered one of the world’s best-preserved dinosaurs, has announced he will resign July 1 from the Dinosaur Field Station for personal reasons. In 2001, Murphy found the mummified dinosaur dubbed Leonardo, a 77 million-year-old duckbill with fossilized skin and organs. On Monday, he cited personal, financial and health reasons for his decision to step down as curator of paleontology. He plans to continue serving as an associate researcher. “It’s been a passion, a calling,” Murphy said. “I can’t imagine not being involved with this. It’s been my baby for 15 years.” Murphy said he was looking to devote more time to a chemical distribution company in which he is a partner. With the Billings business expanding into western Montana, more hands-on involvement is needed, he said. For the past 15 years, Murphy has volunteered his time and shared his expertise as an unpaid curator of paleontology, for 11 years at the Phillips County Museum and for the past four years at the Dinosaur Field Station, which opened in Malta in May 2003. During those years, the discovery of Leonardo and other significant specimens elevated Malta to a dinosaur tourist destination. “He’s been really crucial,” said Larry Putman, board chairman of the nonprofit Judith River Foundation, which operates the Dinosaur Field Station. “He’s done a tremendous amount for the whole program up here.” During his time, Murphy also found a new species of long-necked dinosaurs near Grass Range, a family of Stegosauruses near Malta and three dinosaurs in the same family as Leonardo. “Most people in their lifetimes are fortunate to find one unusual or articulated dinosaur,” paleontologist Dave Trexler said. “Nate has done that not only once, but several times. He has quite the knack for discovering important finds.”
