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A major league thank you to board members and members of the NLA and President (now past) Michael Davidson who at the 2011 Annual Scientific Sessions bestowed on me  the President's Award (the highlight of my professional life). Also a thank you to my friend and colleague John West of Snellville, Georgia who so eloquently introduced me at the ceremony in Manhattan. In my acceptance speech I noted that I have travelled over two million frequent flyer miles in my lecture career which enabled me to influence an army of Lipidaholics and many others to get excited about lipidology. It was quite daunting and in reality ridiculous to be on the same stage as other NLA award winners Tony Gotto, Greg Brown and Rudolfo Paoletti (all of them Lipid Gods).  My journey into lipid education began in the mid 1980s and went nuclear in the early1990s and hit the road in 1998. Although so many contributed to my education I did specifically point out the following mentors:  Dan Rader, Frank Sacks, Sergio Fazio, Bob Rosenson, Virgil Brown, Michael Davidson, Jim Otvos, Bill Cromwell, Peter Jones (of Baylor) and Peter Toth. Time did not permit me to mention Harold Bays, Michael Miller, Pete Kwiterovich, Brian Brewer, Allan Sniderman and others. I extended great admiration to my "lipidaholic rat pack" of Greg Pokrywka, Barry Hull, John West and Tara Dall and because of a brain lock forgot to include my very dear friend Jamie Underberg. Although our relationship is just over a year old, I'd be remiss not to thank Tonya Mallory, Russ Warnick and Joe McConnell of Health Diagnostic labs who have rejuvenated me.  Of course I concluded with thanks to the most important folks in my life: my now departed and beloved Mother (Cora) and Father (Joseph), my so supporting and loving wife Phyllis and my real purpose for being on this planet, my son Bradford (much more famous than his father: just Google him). One other part of my speech deserves repeat: In reality the only reason I became a presence in Lipidology is because of the many thousands of folks who have attended my several thousand lectures in all 50 states. I remind all that none of that would have happened without the support of PhRMA. It is so easy to bash that industry but we would have virtually no understanding of lipid and lipoprotein physiology and pathophysiology CV therapeutics without their support of research and education. I have met with, learned from and worked with thousands of PhRMA people over the last decade. I mentioned two by name in my talk who have endlessly supported my mission to educate: Amrita Chari of Abbott Labs and Craig Sponseller of Kowa (apologies to the many others where time did not permit their mention like Deb Horn, Jason Powel, Ed Lord, Jim Foster, Brad Hardy and so many at BMS, Lilly, Merck & GSK).

As I celebrate my 65th birthday, I am so proud of my NLA membership, my Lipidology Certification and my Fellowship in the NLA.  Thank you all.

Tom Dayspring