SENATE MEMORIAL 51

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CARL MONROE TURNER AND EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE, PATRICIA "P.J." TURNER, AND HIS FAMILY.

     WHEREAS, Carl Monroe Turner was born and raised in East Tupelo, Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, Carl proudly served his country in the Pacific theater during World War II as both a mechanical trainer on aircraft engines and as an aerial engineer; and

     WHEREAS, after the war, Carl obtained his law degree from "Ole Miss", where he was active in creating a third political party to ensure the inclusion of Harry S. Truman on the 1948 presidential ballot in that state; and

     WHEREAS, after that election, Carl moved to New Mexico, where he started his own land title company in Socorro; and

     WHEREAS, Carl was elected to the New Mexico house of representatives, where he served for one term; and

     WHEREAS, on April 1, 1960, Carl was selected to be the first executive manager of the newly formed New Mexico rural electrical cooperative association, a position that he was to hold for nearly thirty years; and

     WHEREAS, Carl was a true champion of rural electrification, fighting for co-ops at the state capitol and in Washington, D.C., throughout his career; and

     WHEREAS, while serving in that capacity, he established the rural electrical cooperative scholarship program, a program that has provided almost five million dollars ($5,000,000) in scholarship assistance to more than five thousand sons and daughters of co-op members; and

     WHEREAS, he is known for creating the first legislative almanac in the late 1960s, a publication that began as part of the January issue of Enchantment Magazine, the trade magazine for rural electric cooperatives, and that grew into a popular and highly regarded directory matching names to faces in the New Mexico legislature; and

     WHEREAS, the national rural electrical cooperative association honored Carl in 2002 by awarding him the prestigious Clyde T. Ellis award, which recognizes recipients for contributions clearly above and beyond the call of duty in furthering the principles and progress of rural electrification; and

     WHEREAS, Carl was pivotal in the preservation and promotion of the Cumbres and Toltec scenic railroad by developing and garnering support for an interstate compact between Colorado and New Mexico to fund the operation of this historic, narrow-gauge, steam-powered railroad; and

     WHEREAS, his interest in that railroad never waned, and he served as a Cumbres and Toltec scenic railroad commissioner for extended periods through the years, and in recognition of his contributions, a parlor car was named in his honor in 2007; and

     WHEREAS, Carl was a scholar who had a curiosity about many diverse topics and who was accomplished in many areas of the arts, sciences and other human interests; and

     WHEREAS, Carl was a book lover and collector; a genealogist able to trace his roots back to 1623; a carver and a chopper of wood; an extraordinary storyteller; and a grower and harvester of horseradish; and

     WHEREAS, Carl died on August 23, 2008 at the age of eighty-seven years, after a year-long struggle with cancer, leaving behind his wife, Patricia "P.J." Turner, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that official appreciation be shown for the life and accomplishments of Carl Monroe Turner and that genuine condolences be expressed to his wife, Patricia "P.J." Turner, and family; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to P.J. Turner and family.

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