Pastor, historian, translator, teacher, editor, administrator and executive in the Rio Grande conference of the United Methodist Church, Dr. Nañez commands the respect of Anglos and Mexican Americans for his character, scholarship, and genuine dedication to the welfare and spiritual development of the Mexican American people. A distinguished graduate of Perkins School of Theology his support of SMU as a faculty member and resource person spans four decades.

His many scholarly articles, his translations of the Methodist Hymnal and Methodist Ritual into Spanish and his The History of the Rio Grande Conference of the United Methodist Church are significant contributions to the church. Few have had so much influence on the Southwest Conference and the Rio Grande Conference, the largest body of Spanish speaking Protestants in the world. Upon this revered churchman Southern Methodist University is proud to confer the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa.