44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REMEMBERING FORMER DISTRICT JUDGE HARRY LONG BIGBEE, A GENEROUS MAN WHO ADVISED UNITED STATES SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES AND WAS A CONFIDANT OF MANY NEW MEXICO GOVERNORS.

WHEREAS, Harry Bigbee passed away on Saturday, June 2, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona, of kidney failure at the age of eighty-four; and

WHEREAS, he met his late wife, Betty Roe, when they were students at Drake university in Iowa where Harry was attending law school; and

WHEREAS, he left Drake during the great depression and, after working at the copper mines near Globe, Arizona, and attending the university of Arizona, he completed his law degree at southern Methodist university in 1942 after marrying Betty and having the first of their three children; and

WHEREAS, he was admitted to the state bar in New Mexico and was appointed the assistant attorney general and then he was appointed district judge, where he sat for a year on the bench before going back into private practice; and

WHEREAS, "New Mexico lost one of its number one great citizens. He was always very proud to be a New Mexican. He will be greatly missed by all," said former governor Bruce King upon his passing; and

WHEREAS, Harry was a political mentor to former New Mexico representatives Bill Richardson and Fabian Chavez; and

WHEREAS, a former law partner of Harry's, retired supreme court justice Donnan Stephenson, said, "The plain and simple fact is Harry was a genius. He had a tremendous mind."; and

WHEREAS, he was a founding member of the Santa Fe boys club and received numerous awards, including the legion of honor award from the Santa Fe Kiwanis club and a doctorate of letters from the college of Santa Fe; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his son Harry Robert Bigbee; daughters Elizabeth Keeshan and Nancy Jensen; a sister, Allene Pickel; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that condolences be extended to the family and friends of Harry Long Bigbee, a distinguished confidant to many and a devoted New Mexican; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to members of Harry Bigbee's family.