HJM 72

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A JOINT MEMORIAL

NAMING THE ANNUAL HOUSE-SENATE BASKETBALL GAME "THE RAYMOND

RUIZ CHARITY LEGISLATIVE BASKETBALL GAME" AND DEDICATING THE

GAME TO HIS MEMORY.

WHEREAS, the annual house-senate basketball game has

raised countless dollars for charity, entertained hundreds of

loyal fans and prompted scores of legislators to reconsider

their exercise regimen; and

WHEREAS, former state representative Raymond Ruiz was a

barrel-chested former ironworker who lent his considerable

athletic ability, drive and enthusiasm to his house colleagues

and teammates in the annual affair during his four years of

service in the New Mexico legislature; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Ruiz was an avid supporter of the

causes that benefitted from the house-senate basketball game

and the epitome of a citizen-legislator, strongly advocating

for working men and women around New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Ruiz died while in office on May 9,

2004, and was succeeded by his wife, Harriet Ruiz, who served

through 2006;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the annual house-senate basketball

game be named "the Raymond Ruiz charity legislative basketball

game" and that the game be played each year in his memory.