Hershel and Ellen Thornburg left a strong legacy to the field of adolescent research, especially through their pioneering work identifying early adolescence as worthy of special focus and through the links they made among research, practice, and policy. This article honors their legacy by pointing to areas of progress in research, needed progress in policy and practice, and future research priorities. Improved communication with policy makers and practitioners can lead to more effective research questions. Also needed is increased scientific rigor to provide answers to pressing societal questions.