HOUSE MEMORIAL 121

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Trujillo and Joanne J. Ferrary

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING MARCH 14, 2017 "CHUCK DAVIS DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND RECOGNIZING HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, Charles "Chuck" Davis, a longtime member of the Las Cruces public schools board of education, died March 9, 2017; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was born in 1934 in St. Charles, Illinois, and moved to New Mexico in 1950; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis graduated from Los Alamos high school and earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the New Mexico college of agriculture and mechanic arts, now known as New Mexico state university; and

     WHEREAS, he served in the United States air force for twenty years, and after retiring from the military, Mr. Davis earned his teaching credentials from the university of Arizona, taught elementary school and taught math and science at the mid-school level in Arizona for four years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis and his family returned to Las Cruces, where he worked for twenty years at White Sands missile range before retiring again; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis became active in the Las Cruces community and was well known throughout New Mexico as an advocate for students, teachers and education; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was first elected to the Las Cruces public schools board of education in 2001, and was reelected in 2005, 2009 and 2013; and

     WHEREAS, after sixteen years of service, Mr. Davis finished his fourth term in office on February 28, 2017, and retired from the board; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis also served on the Dona Ana community college advisory board as president, vice president and secretary; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was an active member of the New Mexico school boards association, and in 2016, the organization named Mr. Davis the New Mexico board member of the year; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis also served as vice president for the New Mexico school boards association's region seven, which encompasses the Las Cruces district, and in that capacity, Mr. Davis testified before numerous legislative committees, focusing on improvements for education throughout the state; and

     WHEREAS, as a member of the local school board, Mr. Davis championed many improvements within the Las Cruces public schools, including improving the graduation rate, the construction of two early college high schools and the district's acquisition of the challenger learning center, which supports science, technology, engineering and math instruction; and

     WHEREAS, throughout the years, Mr. Davis exhibited strong leadership when ensuring that school bond elections and mill levies were held, and passed, in order to build new schools and renovate older ones; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was dedicated to his family and the students of Las Cruces public schools; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis is remembered fondly for his dry sense of humor, and behind his gruffness, he exhibited a soft side; and

     WHEREAS, friends and colleagues also recall his uncanny knack for reading people and his great insight into the motivations of people; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was an active participant in the Democratic party; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Helen Davis, a retired Las Cruces public schools educator, and several of their children are also educators;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 14, 2017 be declared "Chuck Davis Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Charles "Chuck" Davis be recognized for his outstanding service to New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the family of Charles "Chuck" Davis.

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