HOUSE MEMORIAL 64

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Terry H. McMillan

A MEMORIAL

HONORING WILLIAM EDWARD BOYKIN AND RECOGNIZING HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, William Edward Boykin, who served as state representative for district 37 in Dona Ana county for six years, died on November 17, 2015; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin was born June 27, 1932 in Clarendon, Texas, and he and his family later moved to southern New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin attended grade school in Las Cruces and was a member of the cub scouts and the boy scouts of America; and

     WHEREAS, during high school, Mr. Boykin lettered in four sports, was elected senior class president, participated in band and choral music and acted in junior and senior class plays; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin was awarded a full scholarship to New Mexico state university, where he excelled as a football player, playing quarterback, tight end, split end, defensive end and defensive back as needed; and

     WHEREAS, while attending New Mexico state university, Mr. Boykin was a sports editor, yearbook editor, vice president of the student governing body and a cadet commander in the school's air force reserve officers' training corps; and

     WHEREAS, in 1954, Mr. Boykin graduated from New Mexico state university with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and a master of arts degree in English; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin worked for newspapers in Las Cruces and Artesia before entering the United States air force; and

     WHEREAS, in 1958, Mr. Boykin separated from the military and entered graduate school; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin married Jo Irving in July 1958, and they both started careers with the Las Cruces public schools, where Mr. Boykin was employed as the head football coach, English teacher, sponsor of the school paper and yearbook and activities director at various times; and

     WHEREAS, in 1970, Mr. Boykin joined the Aggie football staff as a linebacker coach for three seasons, after which he worked as a state director for an insurance company for three years; and

     WHEREAS, in 1976, Mr. Boykin and his family moved to Farmington, where Mr. Boykin was a high school assistant principal for eight years and principal for two years; and

     WHEREAS, a highlight for Mr. Boykin was the unusual opportunity to present diplomas to his children, Marty, Doug and Ken, upon their graduations; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin took early retirement to care for his ailing wife, Jo, who passed away in 1992; and

     WHEREAS, in 1996, Mr. Boykin married Jane Larson; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin was interim principal of Mesilla valley Christian school, where he served until the end of the 1998 school year; and

     WHEREAS, from 2001 to 2006, Mr. Boykin, a Republican, represented house district 37, which covered Dona Ana county; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin served on the education committee, the taxation and revenue committee, the transportation committee, the enrolling and engrossing committee and numerous interim committees during his terms in office; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin served as coach of the house of representatives basketball team during his tenure as a legislator, leading the team to several important victories over the senate; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin was honored by the Albuquerque Journal for his work in sponsoring bills that laid the groundwork for spaceport America; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Boykin chose not to run for office after 2006, and he and his wife, Jane, spent lots of quality time at their cabin, joyous garde, at willow creek ranch, on the northern edge of the Gila wilderness;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that William Edward Boykin be honored for his years of public service and dedication to the residents of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the family of William Edward Boykin.

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