Hilario Romero is a native New Mexican Mestizo born and raised in Santa Fe, NM. He is currently a Historian, author, grant writer and a retired professor of History, Spanish and Education (1973-2015) where he taught the History of NM, the Southwest & Spain. He was simultaneously the full-time Director of the New Mexico Educational Opportunity Center at Northern New Mexico College for thirty years & other federal grants (1983-2013). Romero was the New Mexico State Historian (1980-1981) and a former Senior Archivist (1972-1974) at the New Mexico Archives. He taught at several Universities prior to and during his 31 year tenure at Northern New Mexico College: the Community College of Denver, (Chair, History & Ethnic Studies), Metro State, University of Colorado-Denver, University of New Mexico & New Mexico Highlands University. His PhD studies (National Bilingual Fellow) were at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Educational History, Multilingual/Multicultural Curriculum & Instruction & International Education. At New Mexico Highlands University, his BA & MA were in History, Spanish, & Bilingual Education. He has served on National, State Commissions & Boards throughout his career & currently is a founding member of the Friends of the Montezuma Hot Springs, & Board member of the Old Santa Fe Association. He is an accomplished musician & dancer in the norteno group, Los Folkloristas de Nuevo Mejico, with Cipriano Vigil (1983-2021). On May 17, 2017, at the annual awards ceremony at the San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe, NM, he received the "Community Service Award" from the Old Santa Fe Association, founded in 1926 to promote preservation of Santa Fe's History and Historic Buildings and Homes.