John Horner is a world-renowned paleontologist celebrated for revolutionizing our understanding of dinosaur behavior and biology. Born and raised near Shelby, Montana, he developed an early passion for paleontology after discovering his first dinosaur bone at age eight. Despite severe dyslexia that prevented him from completing his formal undergraduate degree after seven years at the University of Montana, Horner's dedication to paleontology remained unwavering. His career path included service in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, where he served in a reconnaissance unit, before returning to his scientific pursuits with determination. Horner's exceptional contributions led to his appointment as Regent's Professor of Paleontology at Montana State University, where he served for thirty-four years before retiring in 2016.
Horner's groundbreaking work fundamentally transformed paleontology through his discovery of the Maiasaura nesting site in Montana during the mid-1970s, which provided the first definitive evidence that some dinosaurs cared for their young. This pivotal finding, published in the prestigious journal Nature in 1979, revealed colonial nesting behavior, parental care, and social structures among dinosaurs, overturning previous assumptions about these ancient creatures. His identification of the first dinosaur eggs and embryos in the Western Hemisphere established entirely new research directions in the field and confirmed that dinosaurs exhibited complex social behaviors once thought exclusive to birds and mammals. Horner went on to name numerous dinosaur species including Maiasaura, as well as three species named after himself and one after his research partner, significantly expanding our understanding of dinosaur diversity and evolution.
Recognized as one of the most influential paleontologists of his generation, Horner has received numerous prestigious honors including the MacArthur Fellowship in 1986 and the Romer-Simpson Medal in 2013, paleontology's highest honor. He served as the scientific advisor for all Jurassic Park films and inspired the character of Dr. Alan Grant in Michael Crichton's novel. Despite officially retiring from Montana State University in 2016, Horner continues to share his expertise globally through lectures and currently serves as a Lecturer and Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. His work extends beyond discovery to advocacy, where he openly discusses his dyslexia to inspire others facing learning challenges, demonstrating that scientific excellence transcends conventional academic pathways.
