Foundation/Development

They had a ball

The President’s Associates Board of Directors hosted the 2003 Recognition Ball in April. For the first time in its history, this event was held on campus in the ballrooms of the Corbett Center. Donors who achieved new giving levels were guests for the gala black tie event.

New Mexico State University recognizes the donors in seven giving categories. Honored at the University Ambassador level (cumulative giving of $10,000-$24,999) were Ricardo and Rosa Maria Aguilar, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Bailey, Helen M. Barber, Philip Bills, Mr. and Mrs. Holm O. Bursum III, Carlsbad National Bank and Mr. and Mrs. William P. Charles.

Other honorees at this level include Dr. and Mrs. Paul Daggett, Dasha Estes, Quentin and Ruth Ford, Ken and Elizabeth Garrett, Mr. and Mrs. Rondeau M. Gurley, Russell and Colene Johnson, Arturo and Maria Elena Jurado, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Knorr and Mr. and Mrs. Jon Lindsay. Also Bob and Sherry Myers, the New Mexico Land Title Association, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Nichols, Karen and Richard Pearson and Pure Resources, LP.

Bill and Marguerite Quinones, Mr. and Mrs. Joel H. Sanders, State National Bank, David and Vivian Steinborn, Alice and Eugene Ward, and Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Wolslager complete this group.

At the President’s Council level ($25,000-$49,999) there were 20 new honorees. These include ALSTOM T & D Energy, Automation and Information Corporation, Robert L. Ammons, Aquatrols Corporation of America, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald C. Bauer, Border Foods, Inc. and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bryant.

Also Mr. and Mrs. James Cassan, the El Paso Community Foundation, Ford Motor Company, Drs. John and Isobel Hernandez, Huthsteiner Fine Arts Trust, Bart and Jerri Kinney, Dr. Chuck Murrell and the Presser Foundation.

John and Dacia Salopek, the Lorraine Schula Trust, United States Tobacco Co., Valent U.S.A., Dr. and Mrs. Jules V. VanDersarl and Richard Wareham complete this group.

At the Regents Associates level ($50,000-$99,999) the new members are Frankie Clemons, the Darden Restaurants Foundation, the estate of Lalo Enriquez and Dr. and Mrs. John Yates, Sr.

Recognized for giving at the Crimson Society level ($100,000- $249,999) were Lou and Mary Henson, Robert S. Light, the Rosina Patterson Trust and the estate of Ruby Roach.

Finally, a special award was presented to Circle of Excellence–Gold member Stan Fulton. His latest gift brought his total to over $3 million to build a new stadium annex facility for the athletic department.

This year a Gift of Service category was instituted to recognize those who perform generous acts that impact the life of the university in some way but do not meet the federal definitions of a charitable gift. Mountain View Regional Medical Center, Jack Ward and Dr. James Wetherbe were honored in this capacity.

New members of the University Ambassadors donor recognition group include (left to right) Otis Phillips and Tim Vigil representing the New Mexico Land Title Association; George Ruth and Ermilinda Quintela representing State National Bank; Rondeau and Nicole Gurley, Bob and Sherry Myers, Jimmie and Stephen Wolslager representing the Wolslager Foundation; and Sharon and Dan Knorr.	Among the attendees at the ball were (sitting, left to right) Dr. Chuck Murrell, a new member of the President’s Council giving level, his daughter Sarah Arnold, Wanda and Bill Mattiace and (standing, left to right) Tanya Bonestroo, Jessica Perez, Estella Limos and Lourdes de la Vega.

Honorees in the Gift of Service category included (left to right) Drs. Jim and Smoky Wetherbe, nominated by the College of Business Administration and Economics; and Sally Walker and Sandra Sims on behalf of Mountain View Regional Medical Center, nominated by the College of Health and Social Services. Photos by Russell Mott

Baca creates new engineering endowment

Herman Baca, who earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico State University in 1987, describes himself as a “true believer in the value of a bachelor’s degree as part of a successful career.”

To that end he made a gift of $25,000 to establish an endowed fund in the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering to benefit students graduating from his alma mater, Santa Rosa High School. “I have a passion to see individuals, especially those from rural New Mexico, move forward in education and life,” he says. He hopes that increased support for education in New Mexico will translate into more jobs in state.

Baca grew up in Santa Rosa. Like many of his classmates, he found it necessary to move away to advance his career. After seven years with El Paso Natural Gas Co., Baca is now with ESEI in El Paso, Texas, a telecommunications engineering consulting firm he co-founded. The company specializes in telecommunications planning, designing and project management, most often with utility companies.

His personal values spurred him to invest in education for future generations of engineers whose roots begin in Santa Rosa. “I want to support the efforts of people who want to make things happen and encourage people to donate money to help move their passions,” Baca concluded.

Ann Palormo

Herman and Anna Baca (seated) met Foundation President Dr. Tom Gale and University President Dr. Jay Gogue at the President’s Associates Recognition Ball.

Team members honor Coach Woodson

In its 115-year history, New Mexico State University has acquired a list of individuals who have played a significant role in some aspect of university life. When it comes to football, Coach Warren Woodson’s name is high on the list. His record of 63-36-3 over ten years makes him the winningest coach in Aggie history.

Members of his teams are ensuring that legacy with an endowed fund in his name. Dr. Charley Johnson ’61, quarterback of the undefeated 1960 squad, and Eula Fern Thompson ’64 ’82, wife of halfback David Thompson ’64 ’67 ’78, are chairing this project.

Coach Warren Woodson

In keeping with Coach Woodson’s belief in the importance of education, the endowment will provide additional funds for scholarships for football players to help them earn their degrees. According to Thompson, 37 of the 42 members of that 1960 team graduated from New Mexico State. Many went on to earn advanced degrees and work in education or coaching. Coach Woodson’s influence and values may have been more appreciated by his players after they graduated and moved on in their lives. The stories about those playing days are endless. Asked to sum up his coach’s style, Thompson quickly replies, “Discipline.” Johnson remembers that Coach Woodson had very strict rules for how to play the game. That strictness was demonstrated in the first play of the first game one season. Coach wanted the ball snapped on the count of two to prevent players from jumping offside and causing penalties. A touchdown in that game was called back by the referee because the right guard was offside. “That person never played again and we were almost never offside again,” Johnson adds.

Ron Logback ’63 sums up the sentiments of many in a letter accompanying his gift: “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to show my respect and love for such a great man.” The committee hopes that everyone whose life was touched by Coach Woodson will help build this endowment to $100,000, which it feels is a reasonable reflection of his impact on his players and others during his decade at New Mexico State.

What’s in a name?

During this school year, students living in Cole Village family student housing have seen the streets long designated as A, B, C, etc. acquire new, personalized names. Acting on a request from campus housing and the Post Office to facilitate better mail delivery service, colleges were offered the chance to honor a faculty member or donor by naming the streets.

For the College of Agriculture and Home Economics, the choice was obvious–Fabian Garcia. His link to this university goes back to the earliest days. A member of the Class of 1894, he dedicated his life to his alma mater and agricultural research. He is known as the Father of New Mexico Chile.

The College of Arts and Sciences honored Clyde Tombaugh, a legend in the astronomy world as well as at New Mexico State University. Tombaugh discovered the planet Pluto in 1930 at the age of 24 and his career path brought him to the university in 1955 where he built an astronomy program that is considered one of the most respected in the country. His national lecture tour generated financial resources to establish the Tombaugh Scholars program that supports doctoral students in astronomy.

John Loveland, honored by the College of Business Administration and Economics, retired in 2002 after a 38-year career in the management department. To preserve that legacy, several of his former students and others created the John Loveland endowed fund for excellence in the management department.

The College of Education honored Dr. Roberto Gallegos. Professor Emeritus Gallegos continues to work with pre-service teachers who are making a difference in the lives of children at Hermosa Heights Elementary school in Las Cruces. He and his wife Anne created an endowed fund for the college in the name of their son Michael. Jack Ward ’40 is an electrical engineer who has been a strong supporter of the College of Engineering through the Goddard Hall restoration project and the creation of the Jack Ward endowed scholarship in electrical engineering. To commemorate his many gifts to New Mexico State University, the college named a street in his honor. Lowery Davis Avenue commemorates Dr. Davis’ efforts as the founding dean of the College of Health and Social Services. His commitment to its continued success and excellence in education is reinforced each year through the student recipients of the Lowery H. and Doris C. Davis Scholarship.

Barbara Lee Myers, a transplant to New Mexico from Ohio by way of Washington, D.C., and California, has been in love with books since she was a child. She has been a donor to the Library and other university programs since she arrived in 1996. At a tea following her street dedication, honoree Myers presented Dean Titus with a donation for the library’s Alpha Geoffrey Demetrius children's literature endowment.

Ann Palormo

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