Professor Recognized as one of 2007's 'Hispanic Legends'

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly Microbiology Professor Raul Cano appears in the 2007 edition of the "Hispanic Legends" calendar. The glossy photo calendar is published by State Farm and includes photos and biographies of prominent Hispanic Americans.

Others featured in the calendar include Chico Carrasquel, major league All-Star baseball player; U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; and pioneer of the Women’s National Basketball Association, Rebecca Lobo.

In 1995, Cano and colleagues stunned the world when they announced they had revived 30-million-year-old bacteria from spores taken from the belly of an ancient bee entombed in amber. Cano has received several awards for his outstanding teaching skills and is recognized for his laboratory training of undergraduate students.

He is currently the Unocal chair for Environmental Studies at Cal Poly and director of the university's Environmental Biotechnology Institute.

Each year, State Farm’s multicultural marketing group publishes three calendars, all dedicated to celebrating the trailblazing accomplishments of African Americans, Asians and Hispanics.

Copies of the calendar are available at State Farm Insurance offices.

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