A MEMORIAL

EXTENDING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF AMBASSADOR FRANK V. ORTIZ.

     WHEREAS, Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz was called from this earth into the arms of the Lord on Sunday, February 27, 2005, at the age of seventy-eight after suffering from cancer; and

     WHEREAS, he was born on March 14, 1926 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Frank and Margaret Delgado Ortiz; and

     WHEREAS, he graduated from Santa Fe high school at the age of seventeen during World War II, and since he was not old enough to serve in the United States armed forces, he worked as an aide in the United States senate in Washington, D.C.; and

     WHEREAS, immediately after he became eighteen years of age, he joined the United States air force and was shot down in a B-29 bomber over the seas off Japan on July 13, 1945; and

     WHEREAS, after returning from the war, he enrolled in the Georgetown university school of foreign service, graduating in 1951 and working for nearly forty years in the American foreign service until his retirement in 1990, including serving as ambassador to Barbados, Grenada, Guatemala, Peru and Argentina; and

     WHEREAS, he was instrumental in founding the friends of the palace of the governors and was the driving force in obtaining thirty-one million dollars ($31,000,000) for the New Mexico history museum; and

     WHEREAS, he served on the committee to create a monument to Spanish colonial families in Cathedral park and helped found Think New Mexico, a nonpartisan think tank; and

     WHEREAS, he was very active in the community, serving on boards for the council of international relations, the North American institute, art in public places, St. John's college, the Santa Fe city library, the national dance institute of New Mexico and the New Mexico Hispanic cultural center and served as a trustee for Rancho de las Golondrinas; and

     WHEREAS, Ambassador Frank Ortiz was a self-proclaimed "ordinary kid from Santa Fe" who received the Chamizal commemorative medal from President Lyndon Johnson, the state department's superior service honor award, the unit superior honor award, a knighthood by the king of Spain and a knight of the sovereign order of Malta with the rank of pro merito militenses; and

     WHEREAS, he was cherished by his family and friends, will be missed by the Santa Fe community and will be remembered for his passion in preserving the rich heritage of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Dolores Ortiz; four children, Christina, Frank, Stephen and Jaime Ortiz; three daughters-in-law; six grandchildren; and many relatives and friends;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that sincere condolences be extended to the family and friends of Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the family of Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz.