SENATE MEMORIAL 25

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Shannon Robinson

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING AND EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE LIFETIME SERVICE OF SENATOR MANNY M. ARAGON.

     WHEREAS, Senator Manny M. Aragon was born March 22, 1947 to Charlotte and Mel Aragon; and

     WHEREAS, he traces his roots in New Mexico to 1698; and

     WHEREAS, he grew up in the "Tortilla Flats" section of the Barelas Barrio in the south valley of Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, he attended St. Mary's Catholic school where he was an all-city athlete in football, basketball and baseball; and

     WHEREAS, he attended St. Joseph's college and later the university of Albuquerque on a baseball scholarship, finding that participating in college sports was a full-time job; and

     WHEREAS, he transferred to the university of New Mexico and majored in political science and minored in English; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Aragon benefited from admittance programs such as the counsel of legal education opportunity, designed to prepare students for the rigors of law school; and

     WHEREAS, he has been a public servant for about four decades, beginning when he was the youngest delegate at the national democratic convention in 1968, at age twenty-one, and was elected as president of the New Mexico young democrats; and

     WHEREAS, in the fall of 1970, he was one of twelve Hispanics, the largest group of minorities admitted at that time, to begin legal training at the university of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, in 1970, Governor Bruce King appointed Manny to the state personnel board, he was elected to the state senate for the first time in 1974 and he has been re-elected every year since and has served his constituents' interests in education, campaign reform, open meetings, women's rights, senior citizens, public employee and labor relations, the environment, human rights and international relations; and

     WHEREAS, he battled with colleagues on the equal rights amendment and advocated for the poor, minorities, the working class, women, children and others who are under-represented in the state; and  

     WHEREAS, in 1988 he was elected senate president pro tempore, which office he served until 2001, and he has served as majority floor leader since 2002; and

     WHEREAS, he is admired, feared, respected and loved; "el senador Aragon is charismatic, tough and an astute politician--he knows how to get things done"; and

     WHEREAS, he is known as a legislator with a social conscience, believing in government and the power of government to improve people's lives, and he expects the government to be proactive in helping the poorest of the poor and the disadvantaged; and

     WHEREAS, he has been often mistaken for Clark Gable, and he is also known to have a big heart; and

     WHEREAS, he is known by many as "el jefe" and "el senador", but to most he is a respected colleague and friend; and

     WHEREAS, he spends a lot of time enjoying the peacefulness of Abiquiu, and he also appreciates the ambience and people of Las Vegas, New Mexico, and all that it has to offer;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that appreciation and recognition be extended to Manny M. Aragon for the unique style of leadership and devotion he has shown to the legislature and to the people of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Manny M. Aragon and to the board of regents of New Mexico highlands university.