HOUSE MEMORIAL 27

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Rebecca Dow and Luis M. Terrazas

A MEMORIAL

HONORING DIANNE MILLER HAMILTON AND RECOGNIZING HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, Dianne Miller Hamilton, who served as a Republican state representative for district 38, died at her home in Tijeras on November 9, 2021; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton served nine terms, from 1998 to 2016, representing District 38, which includes Grant, Sierra and Hidalgo counties; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 31, 1934; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton attended grade school and high school in Kansas City and graduated from the university of Kansas in 1955 with a degree in speech communication; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton taught in Kansas City public schools and pursued a broadcasting career until she married her husband of sixty years, United States marine corps officer John A. Hamilton, in December 1956; and

     WHEREAS, for the next twenty years, Representative Hamilton and their four children, Drew, Jared, Lynn and Merritt, followed her husband's career in the military until John retired from the United States marine corps in 1974 when the family moved to Silver City; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton was a well-known radio host in Silver City, broadcasting two daily radio programs on KSIL from 1976 to 1999; and

     WHEREAS, during her legislative career, Representative Hamilton served on the following standing committees: consumer and public affairs; education; government, elections and Indian affairs; and transportation and public works; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton also served on the following interim committees: economic and rural development and telecommunications; economic and rural development; legislative ethics; legislative education study and military and veterans' affairs; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton was a key figure in early efforts to establish statewide voter identification and was known as an advocate for veterans and ranchers; and

     WHEREAS, people fondly recall that Representative Hamilton appreciated the legislative staff members who support the legislature and the public; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton was a popular legislator who was known to "hug her way through the capitol"; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton has also been lauded as a stateswoman who paved the way for other female legislators; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton was an active volunteer and leader in Silver City where she helped found the first shelter for victims of domestic violence; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton served on the board of regents at western New Mexico university from 1990 to 1998, serving as president of the board for the last four years of her term; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton held leadership roles in many community organizations, including the Grant county arts council, the Gila regional medical center foundation, the board of Hidalgo medical services and the Silver City library board; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton received the governor's award for outstanding New Mexico woman in 1994 and was named the Silver City/Grant county citizen of the year in 1995; and

     WHEREAS, in 2000, Representative Hamilton received the New Mexico district attorneys' award for outstanding representative of the year and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities from western New Mexico university in 2006; and

     WHEREAS, in November 2009, the Dianne Miller Hamilton military museum celebrated its grand opening in Truth or Consequences; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Hamilton is survived by her children, John Andrew "Drew" Hamilton and Tricia, Jared Miller Hamilton and Mike, Lynn Hamilton O'Connell and Bob, and Merritt Hamilton Allen; her granddaughters, Blythe Hamilton and Joan Marie O'Connell; and three generations of Armstrongs led by Bobbi and Rich Armstrong; and

     WHEREAS, the state honored Representative Hamilton on November 22, 2021 when she laid in state in the state capitol rotunda; and

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Dianne Miller Hamilton be honored and recognized for her public service and dedication to the residents of New Mexico and her strong advocacy for those whose voices are often not heard; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to John Andrew "Drew" Hamilton, Jared Miller Hamilton, Lynn Hamilton O'Connell and Merritt Hamilton Allen.

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