A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING MARY GAVIN FOR HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin moved to New Mexico in 1951 with her late husband, Edward Gavin; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin and her family spearheaded the effort to stop the remarkable fossils discovered in New Mexico from leaving the state; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin lobbied the legislature for four years to construct and fund a state museum where all the fossils could be stored and displayed to the public; and

WHEREAS, in 1980, the legislature approved by a single vote the construction of the museum of natural history, which is the most visited museum in the state; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin served as a board member of the museum from its inception until 1993, when her contribution to the museum was recognized by Governor Bruce King, who named her as the state's first-ever trustee emerita; and

WHEREAS, a university of New Mexico professor named a fossil, Euconodoma gavinensis, after Mary Gavin for her unceasing years of work to establish the museum of natural history; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin has been active in national and international museum societies and has brought a major museum convention to New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin was honored for her contributions to the state, joining a select group when she was named a Santa Fe "Living Treasure"; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin won an award as New Mexico's woman of the year; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin has written a book about her years on the Pecos river ranch; and

WHEREAS, Mary Gavin was an active pilot and captain of the women's polo team in college; and

WHEREAS, Mary's friends describe her as elegant, strong, magical, indomitable, one of New Mexico's gems and a living testimony to staying alive as long as you live;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Mary Gavin be recognized for her outstanding accomplishments and her contributions to New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Mary Gavin.