SENATE MEMORIAL 32

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Kay Papen

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

HONORING DENNIS SCOTT HAZLETT AND RECOGNIZING HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, Dennis Scott Hazlett was born May 21, 1944 in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, and died on November 9, 2019; and

     WHEREAS, after serving in the United States air force, Dennis graduated summa cum laude from Illinois state university in 1970; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis then moved to Santa Fe, where he began a long and distinguished career in state government; and

     WHEREAS, in 1988, Dennis took a break from his state government career to do something he had always wanted to do, attend law school; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis earned his juris doctor degree from the university of New Mexico school of law and was admitted to the state bar in 1991 before returning to state government employment; and

     WHEREAS, during his career, Dennis was director of the former state welfare agency and administrative services director of a number of state agencies, including the energy, minerals and natural resources department; the department of finance and administration; the human services department; the children, youth and families department; the general services department; and the state land office; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis was also the chief operating officer of the gaming control board; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis retired from state government as deputy commissioner of public lands under then-commissioner Ray Powell; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis later served as chief administrative officer of the Valles Caldera national trust and director of governmental relations for New Mexico state university; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis was also an adjunct professor in the university of New Mexico graduate school of public administration; and

     WHEREAS, after Dennis retired, most of his work was with the state legislature, working for both the house of representatives and the senate; and

     WHEREAS, among the positions Dennis held were chief of staff for the house majority leadership office and, most recently, analyst in the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis served as chair of the state personnel board in 2003 and 2004; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis was also a certified government financial manager and was selected as 1997 financial manager of the year by the New Mexico chapter of the association of government accountants; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis's greatest passions were aviation and working with his hands, whether "flipping" a house or, especially, restoring classic cars; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis earned his air transport license and was a flight instructor, having taught many Santa Feans and others to fly; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis left state government temporarily in the early 1980s to become president and general manager of Post aviation of Santa Fe; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis was a man of many interests and many talents who was endowed with a dry wit; he could be incredibly funny but was not ashamed to cry; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis is survived by his wife of twenty-seven years, Judi Ross Hazlett; his brother, Curt, and wife, Wendi; his brother, Doug, and wife, Kim, and their children; as well as his beloved kitties Ti, Schwartzl and special kitty buddy, Tucker; and

     WHEREAS, Dennis was a fine man, a man of integrity, a loyal friend and a true gentleman;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Dennis Scott Hazlett be honored for his professionalism and his many years of public service in state government; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Judi Ross Hazlett.

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