Alumni return to campus for awards, festivities

Homecoming honorees include, front row, from left, Laura Mathers Conniff, Nazario C' de Baca and Madeline P. Gillette. Back row, from left, are Alex P. Vega, Patricio Quintana, Tullissee Antoinette (Toni) Murdock, Omar U. Zaman and Walter Gerald Hines. Photo by Michael Kiernan

The NMSU Alumni Association honored the 1999 Distinguished Alumni and other awardees at ceremonies during NMSU's Homecoming festivities Oct. 7-9.

The Distinguished Alumni awards are given each year to individuals who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields and brought recognition to NMSU. The 1999 honorees are:

Alex Peter Vega, '94, '95, of Belize, International Distinguished Alumnus. Vega earned bachelor's and master's degrees in social work. He helped establish the Social Work Program at the University College of Belize.

Nazario C' de Baca, '40, College of Agriculture and Home Economics. C' de Baca, of Bernalillo, N.M., earned a bachelor's degree in agronomy and soils. He worked to establish agriculture extension and youth programs in Bolivia, El Salvador and Guatemala. During World War II he was assigned to the 11th Armored Division under Gen. George Patton. He established and recently added to an NMSU scholarship endowment. A story about him appears on page 5.

Tullissee Antoinette Murdock, '68, '70, College of Arts and Sciences. Murdock, of Seattle, earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in history. She is the CEO/provost at Antioch University Seattle. Recently, she served as assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arizona.

Laura Mathers Coniff, '74, College of Business Administration and Economics. Coniff is a co-broker of Mathers Realty, Inc. in Las Cruces and co-owner of Leveldale Farms in Mason City, Ill. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. She is a member of the NMSU President's Associates, Foundation, Mil Gracias Society, Alumni Association and Aggie Scholarship Association.

Patricio Quintana, '73, College of Education. Quintana, of El Prado, N.M., received a doctorate in educational administration at NMSU. He taught at several New Mexico schools, worked as the director of NMSUÕs Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action office, provost at Dona Ana Branch Community College, principal of Holy Cross Catholic School and interim director of NMSU's Chicano Programs before retiring.

Omar Zaman, '70, College of Engineering. Zaman, of Lilburn, Ga., earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and economics before studying civil engineering and airport planning design at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is vice president of operations at Riley, Park, Hayden and Associates. Previously, he was vice president of Fister and Associates, served in various positions with Williams-Russell and Johnston, and was chief engineer and director of operations at Ewell W. Finley and Partners, all in Atlanta.

Madeline Gillette, '97, College of Health and Social Services. Gillette, of Las Cruces, earned a master's degree in social work with a minor in public administration. She has volunteered her time for several organizations including the Peace Corps in Paraguay. She is a clinical specialist at Southwest Counseling Center.

Walter Gerald Hines, '66, '67, was honored with the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service. The award is presented each year to an NMSU graduate or an active member of the Alumni Association for support and involvement in NMSU and for professional, civic and humanitarian service.

Hines, of Las Cruces, holds bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering. He is a senior engineer at CH2M Hill, an Albuquerque engineering consulting firm. He is the author of the new book Aggies of the Pacific War: NM A&M and the War With Japan.

Brothers Gilbert and Raymond Cano were honored as 1999 Conquistadores of the Year. Los Conquistadores was founded in 1937 as a social club for Spanish- speaking students. The Conquistadores Awards are given to NMSU alumni who are former members of the club and have distinguished themselves in the work force and their communities.

Brothers Gilbert Cano, left, and Raymond Cano are the 1999 Conquistadores of the Year.

Gilbert Cano, '54, '64, of Albuquerque, earned a bachelor's degree in physics and a doctorate in experimental atomic physics. He worked for Sandia National Laboratories, the State of New Mexico as a science and energy adviser and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Raymond Cano, '53, of Mesilla, earned a bachelor's degree in electronics. He has worked for Boeing, General Electric, the U.S. Air Force and in various positions at White Sands Missile Range.

Andy Ybarra

Tau Kappa Epsilon's Homecoming float moves down University Avenue to take first-place parade honors.

The NMSU cheerleaders and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity show their Aggie spirit on their "New Mexico State Universe" float, the third-place parade winner. The NMSU cheerleaders and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity show their Aggie spirit on their "New Mexico State Universe" float, the third-place parade winner.

Members of the Class of '49 are, from left, John Phillips Jr., Raymond Van Pelt, Stuart Meerscheidt, Lewis Holland, Joe Gold and C. Quentin Ford. Class of '59, reunion leaders, are, from left, Conrad G. Keyes Jr., Roberta Boney Myers and Joe Creed. Photos by Michael Kiernan