SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 19

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy Z. Jennings

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO NAME THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY IN SANTA CLARA AFTER REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS P. FOY.

     WHEREAS, Representative Thomas P. Foy, a resident of Bayard, New Mexico, passed away on October 8, 2011 at the age of ninety-six; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy, or Tom, as he was fondly known to family and friends, was born on October 19, 1914 in Silver City and grew up in Bayard, Santa Clara, Hurley and the mining district area; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy proudly and honorably served his country, joining the 200th coast artillery battery of the New Mexico national guard in 1940; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy was assigned to the Philippines in 1941 and was captured by the Japanese in April 1942; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy was a prisoner of war until 1945, survived the Bataan death march and was decorated with the bronze star, the purple heart, the Asian pacific ribbon and the New Mexico distinguished service medal; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic church, a member of the knights of Columbus, the knights of the holy sepulcher, the Bayard lions club, the Silver City moose lodge number 1718 and veterans of foreign wars number 3347 and a life member of the Silver City elks lodge; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy opened his law practice in Bayard in 1946, was elected and served as the sixth judicial district attorney from 1949 to 1956, was a member of the New Mexico bar for seventy years and served as a board member and vice president of the New Mexico bar commission; and

     WHEREAS, in 1970, Representative Foy was elected to the New Mexico house of representatives from district 39, comprising Grant and Hidalgo counties, serving fourteen terms until 1998; and

     WHEREAS, he was the chair of the judiciary committee, the corporations and banks committee, the committee on equal rights and the courts, corrections and criminal justice committee; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy is remembered as a "true blue democrat" by former Representative Murray Ryan, a Republican, of district 38, which includes Grant, Luna and Sierra counties; and

     WHEREAS, former Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez recalls Representative Foy as a "beloved and respected member in the New Mexico house of representatives"; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy was the founder of the Grant county state bank, which provided loans and capital to residents; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy was named citizen of the year in 1965 by the Silver City-Grant county chamber of commerce; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Foy leaves the following philosophy by which he lived to his children, grandchildren and future generations of family:

     "Get a good education, work hard, have a good moral compass to guide you and serve your fellow man. Accept responsibility for the good that you do as well as the mistakes that you make. Enjoy life."; and

     WHEREAS, there is a national guard armory in Representative Foy's hometown of Santa Clara; and

     WHEREAS, because he served in the military and contributed greatly to the community of Santa Clara, it is fitting that the armory be named after him;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Governor Susana Martinez be requested to name the national guard armory in Santa Clara after Representative Thomas P. Foy; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Governor Martinez and the family of Representative Thomas P. Foy.

- 4 -