Torres has received a number of awards for his work in the field of education. He was a recipient of the Walt Disney Corporation's Outstanding National Foreign Language Teacher of the Year Award in 1992. In 1993, he received the National Educator Award. He was also a recipient of the Golden Apple Award for which he received a scholarship and sabbatical to continue his research. Torres has been named Outstanding New Mexican of the Year twice. He is also a founding member of the Tennessee Governor's School of International Studies with which he has worked closely for 24 years. Torres is the author of Six Nuevomexicano Folk Dramas for Advent Season and has contributed to a number of other works. Mr. Torres was given the Camino Real Award as one of 15 Outstanding New Mexicans for 1996. In 1998 his radio talk show "Cafecito y Cultura" won first place for best public service from the Associated Press and in 1999 his radio show "Paso a Paso" won a first place for best documentary on the airwaves also by the Associated Press of New Mexico. In his most recent coup in 2003, Larry Torres received a grant through the United States Department of Agriculture to work with New Mexico State University in the development of material for the teaching of first generation Hispanic students at the university level. Its focus is on cultural sensitivity training and enhancement.
Public appearance
In 2005, he was featured on the television show Good Morning America and in 2008 he appeared on NBC's The Today Show to discuss the Taos Hum. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the national radio show America Tonight.
Recent publications
In the Footsteps of the Hermit.
Cruising the Camino Real.
"Habla Usted Spam-glish?" weekly column in The Taos News.
Four entries in the Encyclopedia of Hispanic American Religious Culture.
Multiple entries in the Sacred Places of Taos.
Recent interviews and citations
Mellott, David M. I Was and I Am Dust: Penitente Practices as a Way of Knowing. Liturgical Press, 2009.
Nathanson, Rick. "Character Driven: Taos' history, allure linked to personalities who have called it home" in the Albuquerque Journal Summer Guide, May 9, 2010
Headerle, Michael. "In New Mexico, parishioners keep their church immortal" in the Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2010