AGGIE PRIDE
 | A Message From President William B. Conroy The centennial celebration of the Alumni Association and a state bond referendum for education - two topics you will encounter in this issue of Aggie Panorama - might seem unrelated at first glance. But each provides a reminder of the importance of NMSU's heritage to the university's success today and tomorrow.
|
Without question, 100 years of alumni accomplishments have been a major factor in the success of this university. On that foundation, and on the able shoulders of today's graduates, rests the enviable reputation of New Mexico State University.
It was less than 100 years ago, but not much less, that noted Southwestern architect Henry Trost designed the Horseshoe area of the NMSU campus and several of the first buildings located there. Goddard Hall, one of those architectural treasures, is on the list of capital projects that will be funded if Bond Issue B is approved by New Mexico voters Nov. 3.
Named for radio pioneer Ralph W. Goddard, this historic symbol of NMSU's College of Engineering is due for extensive renovations. Passage of Bond Issue B would add $1.5 million to the funds already raised for the project, assuring that a valued part of NMSU's heritage continues to play a vital role in the university's mission.
The bond issue also includes funding for other NMSU projects, on
the main campus and at the branches, as you will read on page 5. If you
are a New Mexico voter, please mark your calendar for Nov. 3. Exercise
your right to vote - and don't overlook Bond Issue B!
First Came KOB
Dear Aggie Panorama:
The June issue has a letter from Ed Sironi, stating that KNMA, created by Professor H.A. Brown, was the first radio station at the college. I have no doubt that Professor Brown created KNMA, but it was not the first.
At one time, the college owned an AM commercial station, KOB. The transmitter was in a small building in the center of what subsequently became the engineering quadrangle. The grounding system was buried deep under that building.
Prior to 1937, when I first enrolled, the station was sold to commercial interests in Albuquerque. One of the conditions of the sale was the college reserved a set number of hours for public interest and/or education broadcasts. A recording system was installed in the building, where various colleges and departments would cut heavy wax recordings for shipment to Albuquerque.
In 1937, Connie Fleissner, who had an amateur radio licence, enrolled at the college. In 1937 or 1938 we built a voice transmitter to broadcast on the 10- and 20-meter bands. The transmitter was installed in the old building, and we actually used the old ground system for it. Professor Brown was also the prime mover in this operation.
| G.C. Martin, ex-'41 |
| Fort Worth, Texas |
Editor's note: Two other Alumni sent details about radio's early days on campus. Here are excerpts from their letters:
None of the articles I saw mentioned the existence of a pioneer station on the campus. Radio Station KOB of Albuquerque had its origins on the New Mexico A&M campus in the mid-1920s. Professor Ralph W. Goddard, for whom the current campus radio and television stations (KRWG-FM and KRWG-TV) are named, operated the KOB facility on 1030 kilohertz with powers up to about 20,000 watts. On Dec. 31, 1929 Professor Goddard was electrocuted while working on the transmitter. Shortly after this tragedy the Board of Regents sold the station and it was relocated to Albuquerque where it still dominates the market.
| J.S. Sellmeyer, P.E., '64 |
| McKinney, Texas |
KRWG was housed in the building that had been the college canteen. Roger Siddall and I had a weekly sports-talk show on that station in 1953-54 and took classes in radio journalism under Prof. Verne Webber.
And on that subject, you will probably hear from some well-known Aggie journalism grads who studied that profession under the late J. Paul Boushelle. Journalism was indeed alive and well before Professor Jacobs arrived to give it the shot it needed to become a full-fledged department.
| Ed Boykin, '54, '64 |
| Farmington, N.M. |
Queenly Gift
Dear Associated Students,
Enclosed is a check for $1,200, as an expression of gratitude for your support in helping finance my college education. Without my job as secretary for the Associated Students and senate clerk, I would not have had the money to complete my bachelor's degree and graduate in 1966.
I still remember how flattered and supported I felt when El Guillo's Banditos nominated and sponsored me as Homecoming Queen in 1965. That honor was as valuable to my self-esteem as the money was for my education.
Please use this money as you wish either as a scholarship for someone who needs and deserves it, or for something you have dreamed of having for the office.
As a result of my bachelor's degree in home economics education, I taught one year in Tombstone, Ariz., then moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where I taught about 13,000 junior high students for 23 years. I completed my master's degree in secondary education at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and two other master's degrees in special education and psychology/counseling.
I am now retired from public school teaching (by age 44) and living in California teaching adult classes. (The Secret to Abundance and The Secret to Happiness Using Universal Spiritual Principles) at the Learning Light Foundation in Anaheim.
Sending you this check is part of the circulation principal that I teach my Abundance students.
| Malinda Ann (Paine) Miller, '66 |
| Huntington Beach, Calif. |
Editor's note: The Associated Students of NMSU received this letter and gift in May from Miller. They will purchase a trophy case for their office in Corbett Center. The case will be engraved in Miller's honor and a framed copy of her letter will be displayed.
Academic Wall of Honor
 | NMSU's athletics department showcases players' academic accomplishments in a new Academic Wall of Honor, located in the northwest lobby of the Pan American Center. Pictured at the grand unveiling in May to the immediate right of the wall is Jim Paul, director of athletics. The wall honors athletes who maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA or receive a 3.0 GPA in their previous semester's work. About half of all current NMSU scholarship athletes - about 150 out of 300 - meet those requirements. The Academic Wall of Honor is sponsored by First Security Bank of Southern New Mexico and the Las Cruces Sun-News.
|