SENATE MEMORIAL 106

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

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph Cervantes

A MEMORIAL

HONORING REPRESENTATIVE DONA GALE IRWIN AND RECOGNIZING HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, after nine terms of dedicated public service, Representative Dona Gale Irwin will be retiring from legislative service; and

     WHEREAS, a Democrat, Representative Irwin represents house district 32, which covers Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin's legislative priorities are seen in the committees on which she serves: the business and employment committee; and the agriculture, water and wildlife committee; and

     WHEREAS, coming from the Deming area, Representative Irwin has always been supportive of agriculture and the initiatives that help farmers and ranchers; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin does not hesitate to take strong stances on issues important to her and has a forthright manner; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin is a Silver City native who spent her early years living with her family at the Silver City fire department residence, where her father served as fire chief; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin attended Silver City public schools and western New Mexico university; and

     WHEREAS, in high school, Representative Irwin was on the annual staff, played volleyball and was a majorette with the band; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin learned to ride horses at an early age and participated on horseback in the annual fourth of July parades; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin married Bert Irwin, now deceased, in 1951, and they had a daughter, Janet, and a son, Craig; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin was a stay-at-home mother for many years and was a substitute teacher at Columbus elementary school; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin became a teacher's aide at Columbus elementary school, where she taught English as a second language to young children; and

     WHEREAS, to this day, Representative Irwin is approached by former students who remember her fondly and thank her for teaching them English; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin's background is in finance, and she was employed by first New Mexico bank as a marketing officer until her retirement; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin is very active in her community and is a charter member of both the borderbelles and the copperbelles, chapters of the cowbelles; is a toastmistress and a member of the chamber of commerce and golden gossip; and is a silver spike, among many other interests; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin was a Luna county commissioner from 1982 to 1986 and the mainstreet project manager in Deming from 1986 to 1990; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin lived on the family farm in Columbus for many years, and she moved to Deming in 1997; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin was elected to the New Mexico house of representatives in 1998; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Irwin is held in high esteem by colleagues, in friendship and respect;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Representative Dona Gale Irwin be recognized and honored for her dedication to the representation and well-being of the people of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Representative Dona Gale Irwin.