HOUSE MEMORIAL 11

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Rick Miera

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE RAMON HUERTA FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS, DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, former Representative Ramon Huerta died in Albuquerque on October 28, 2013 at the age of eighty-nine; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta was born in Kansas City, Kansas, but was raised in east San Jose, Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, upon graduating from Albuquerque high school in 1943, Representative Huerta entered the service as a radar technician in the United States 29th Army air corps, and he was a World War II veteran, having been stationed from 1943 to 1946 in Burma, China and India; and

     WHEREAS, after leaving the military, Representative Huerta dedicated his life to education, attending the university of New Mexico, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1950 and a master of arts degree with honors in 1956; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta began his career as an educator teaching Spanish at Highland high school in Albuquerque from 1955 to 1985, and also taught Spanish on television for Albuquerque public schools and at the Peace Corps training center at the university of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta served as president of the Albuquerque classroom teachers' association of the New Mexico association of classroom teachers, in addition to serving on the executive committee of the national education association in Washington, D.C., and as a delegate to the world conference of teachers in 1973, in Nairobi, Kenya; and

     WHEREAS, in 2002, Representative Huerta was awarded the distinguished Zia award, which honors New Mexico residents and university of New Mexico alumni who have contributed to philanthropic endeavors, acknowledging his dedication and service to his students and community; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta may have left the classroom behind, but never his passion for education, while he pursued public service in the house of representatives from 1988 to 1994; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta served on six legislative committees, including the legislative education study committee, the house education committee and the house consumer and public affairs committee; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta was selected by his colleagues in the house to serve as the democratic caucus chair from 1991 to 1994; and  

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta forever left his mark on education in New Mexico with his signature piece of legislation, House Bill 17 (1993), which promoted education reform and included provisions for school nurses; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Huerta is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Evelyn; his daughters, Lisa and Shila; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Representative Ramon Huerta be recognized for his outstanding service to the state of New Mexico and that condolences be expressed to his family; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the family of Representative Ramon Huerta.

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