Dr. Terry worked in the pharmaceutical industry for decades before deciding to pursue his interest in botanical research by re-entering academia. His growing concern over the accelerating destruction of the habitat known as the Tamaulipecan thornscrub in South Texas focused his interest on star cactus and peyote. The plight of star cactus showed him what could happen when a cactus is loved to the brink of extinction. A brief exercise in projecting from known circumstances instilled a growing concern for peyote and led him to seek others with the skills needed to take action.