46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

EXPRESSING THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE SENATE TO RUDOLFO ANAYA FOR HIS RECEIPT OF THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS.

WHEREAS, Rudolfo Anaya was born in the small village of Pastura, New Mexico, on October 30, 1937; and

WHEREAS, as a small boy, his family moved to the eastern plains of Santa Rosa, and then to Albuquerque when he was fifteen; and

WHEREAS, Rudolfo is considered by many to be the dean of Chicano literature; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Anaya is best known for his coming-of-age novel Bless Me Ultima, now a standard text in many high school and college literature courses; and

WHEREAS, Rudolfo is a professor emeritus at the university of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, he has also written the novels Heart of Aztlan, Tortuga, Alburquerque, Zia Summer, Rio Grande Fall and Jalamanta as well as children's books, poems, short stories, essays and plays; and

WHEREAS, on April 22, 2002, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush awarded Mr. Anaya with a national medal of arts, upon which the citation reads: "Rudolfo Anaya: For his exceptional contribution to contemporary American literature that brought national recognition to the traditions of the Chicano people and for his efforts to promote Hispanic writers.";

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that congratulations be extended to Rudolfo Anaya for his contributions to New Mexico and for winning the prestigious national medal of arts.