1st Reunion of NMSD Alumni: June 13-15, 1980

Reunion Co-Chairpersons: Bobby Moore '70 & Richard (Ric) Gonzales NMSD Staff 1983

This was NMSD based voluntary committee.

Formation of Roadrunner Alumni Association

NMSD Superintendent, Dr. Ken Brasel encouraged NMSD Alumni to start a new organization.

Alumni people accepted the challenge and named the organization Roadrunners Alumni Association (RAA).

Lot of fumbling in getting the organization established.

First RAA Officers: 1985-1987:

President: Bobby Moore '70

Vice President: Richard (Dick) Pearson '76

Secretary: Lenna Trujillo '72

Treasurer: Alumnus William (Bill) Rice

Public Relations: Dolores (Kolb) Fromm '61

1987 Reunion Co-Chairpersons: Bobby Moore '70 & Judith Tripp '61

First task (2nd Reunion) is assigned: Goal to celebrate NMSD's 100th birthday (1887-1987) - encouraged by NMSD Superintendent Dr. Ken Brasel.

NMSD Centennial Committee of the Flagpole project begins

Chairperson: Alumnus Johnny Robertson

Designer & Drafting : Richard (Dick) Pearson '76

Welder: Forrest McKinley '77

Consultant: Steve Lucero '77

Builder: Bruce Cassidy '68

New NMSD Advisory Council Members:

One representative from RAA Alumni

One representative from parent of a Deaf Child

One representative from NMSD Student Body Government

One representative from NMSD Staff

One representative from NMAD

One representative from NMRID

One representative from UNM

One representative from Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

One representative from Santa Fe Public School

One representative from Albuquerque Public School

One representative from Los Alamos National Lab

Two representative from outside business

NMSD Founder's Day recognized (NMSD Board of Regent directive): November 9, 1986

Time Capsule Committee begins:

Chairperson Alumnus Johnny Robertson

Various Contributions to the Time Capsule Committee: Espie Latimer '53

Ground breaking for the Alumni Memorial Plaza at the Flag Pole.

Richard Pearson and Forrest McKinley introduced the Drawing of Alumni Memorial Plaza and Time Capsule to the crowd.

Time Capsule collection presentation (showing NMSD class contributions) by Alumnus Johnny Robertson.

2nd Reunion of RAA: June 25-27, 1987

Alumni Plaza: the Beginning

RAA New Officers: 1987-1992:

President: Bobby Moore '70

Vice President: Richard (Dick) Pearson '76

Secretary- Dolores (Kolb) Fromm '61

Treasurer - Alumnus William (Bill) Rice

Public Relations- Dolores (Kolb) Fromm '61

1992 Reunion Chairperson: Bobby Moore '70

Alumni Memorial Plaza under construction.

Goal to be completed and burial of time capsule scheduled for Founder's Day, November 8, 1987

NMSD Founder's Day, November 8, 1987 Alumni Memorial Plaza Ribbon Cutting Introduction:

Dr. Thomas Dillon, Master of Ceremonies (Former Principal of NMSD)

Open Alumni Memorial Plaza: Bobby Moore and RAA President Address: Beatrice M Burke '53

Time Capsule Burial Introduction: Johnny Robertson, Time Capsule Chairperson

Various Contributions to the Time Capsule Committee: Espie Latimer '53

Closing the capsule and "burial" (into cavity underneath plaza) ceremony completed.

1988: Alumni Memorial Plaza metal handrails welded together by Forrest McKinley and his assistant Richard Pearson

Forrest McKinley passed away November 23, 1988

Officially recognized that 1990-1992 Roadrunners Alumni Association - RAA became inactive.

3rd Reunion: June 25-28, 1992

The Organization started as Roadrunners Alumni Association (RAA)

It was renamed to New Mexico School for the Deaf Alumni Associations (NMSDAA) during 3rd reunion June 25-28, 1992.

NMSDAA New Officers: 1992-1997:

President: Richard (Dick) Pearson '76

Vice President: Larry Lucero '72

Secretary: Sonia Gonzales '81

Treasurer: Victor Arellano '80

Public Director: Johnny Hooper ''82 (1992-1995)

1997 Reunion Chairperson: Richard (Dick) Pearson '76

Brief of NMSDAA Activities Report

Joined a coalition of NMSD Student Body Government, Parent-Teacher-Staff Association, NMAD, NMSD-NEA, and others to protest at the NM Capitol.

Several reports to NMSD Progress, NMAD's Deaf New Mexican Newsletters, and COPD Newsletters

Wrote letters to State Legislators to support various bill issues related Deaf Education, Telecommunication Relay, Interpreter, Deaf Community, etc.

Became part of the NMSD Board of Regents Liaison Provided input to NMSD's Communication Philosophy

2 officers, Secretary & Treasurer of NMSDAA resigned due to transfer job out of state

Became involved with the NMSD Screening and Interview Committee for the superintendent's position

Strongly favor the NMSD Board of Regents' selection of Dr. Madan Vasishta of Deaf superintendent as a vital positive role model for Deaf students.

Dr. Vasishta is the 2nd Deaf Superintendent in the history of NMSD.

Even though several meeting of the NMSDAA were announced (attempting to fill the two vacancies), and low numbers of people attended.

This lack of interest and attendance at meetings caused NMSDAA appear to be inactive.

President and Vice President voluntarily held on to funds and belongings to RAA & NMSDAA.

Officially recognized that 1995-1997- New Mexico School for the Deaf Alumni Association (NMSDAA) became temporarily inactive.

President Pearson served as 1997 Reunion Chairperson.

4th Reunion: August 1-3, 1997

NMSDAA New Officers: 1997-2002:

President: Jean (Noling) Seth '71 - First Female President

Vice President: Matthew Lujan '85

Secretary: Nadine (Garcia) Martinez '84

Treasurer: Raul Lozano '90 2000-2002

Jean (Noling) Seth passed away October 2000.

• * NMSDAA Replacing Officers: November 2000-2002

President: Nadine (Garcia) Martinez '85

Vice President: Vincent (Vinnie) Martinez '90

Secretary: Dory Roybal '86

Treasurer: Alumnus Rudy Chavez

2002 Reunion Co-Chairpersons: Bobby Moore '70 & Robert (Rob) Huizar '93

There was mass officer vacancies. Replacement Officers was completed in November 2000.

5th Reunion: June 14-16, 2002

NMSDAA New Officers: 2002-2007:

President: Beatrice (Bea) (Maestas) Burke '53

Vice President: Carla (Garcia) Fernandez '86

Secretary: Dolores Baca '55 then Sonia (Garcia) DeNight '95

Treasurer: Jerry Seth '63 then Aaron Martinez '96

2007 Reunion Co-Chairpersons: Sonia (Garcia) DeNight '95 & Juan Diego Gonzalez '93

6th Reunion: July 5-8, 2007

Theme: "NMSD is where WE became a family"

Alumni decided to recognize NMSD was founded by Lars Larson; not by State (1887). A directive was made; founded on 1885. is to honor to Lars Larson and his family

NMSDAA New Officers: 2007-2010:

President: Raul Lozano '90 then Kenneth (Ken) Litherland '82

Vice President - Kenneth (Ken) Litherland '82 (no replacement)

Secretary- Faye (Moss) Falvey '57

Treasurer - Aaron Martinez '96

2010 Reunion Co-Chairpersons: Bobby Moore '70 & Larry Lucero '72

7th Reunion: September 23-26, 2010

125th NMSD Birthday

(Originally planned for July 2012-but moved to September 2010 during Homecoming by a directive by NMSD Alumni; was established in 1885)

NMSDAA New Officers: 2010-2015:

President: Juan Diego Gonzales '93

Vice President: Corina Gutierrez '88

Secretary: Rosela (Seidman) Barela '89 then Monica (Rodriquez) Huerta-Carteya '90

Treasurer: Kenneth (Ken) Litherland '82

2015 Reunion Chairperson: Roger Robb '86 with Consultant: Bobby Moore '70

8th Reunion: October 8-10, 2015

130th NMSD Birthday

NMSDAA New Officers: 2015-2020:

President: Corina Gutierrez '88

Vice President: Margarita (Lozano) Garcia '85

Secretary: Roger Robb '86

Treasurer: Alumnus Theodore (Ted) Dressler

Board Members at Large: Governance: Roy DeHaven '85

Board Member at Large: Historian : Richard (Dick) Pearson '76

Board Member at Large: Social Media & Marketing: Susan Haley '82

2020 Reunion Co-Chairpersons: Amy (Lucero) Gomme '07 & Matthew Lujan '85 then Roger Robb '86 & Sophia Pacias '85

Bylaws was changed, introducing board officers; added 3 Board Member at Large officers and Reunion Chairperson(s) is an elected board officer(s) positions.

9th Reunion: CANCELLED due to COVID pandemic

135th NMSD Birthday

see note under Reunion 2020 [page]

NMSDAA New Officers: 2020-2025: *

* no elections, NMSDAA officers extended their terms to next reunion.

President: Corina Gutiérrez '88 then Mary Lynn (Bechdol) Bransford '85

Vice President: Margarita (Lozano) Garcia '85

Secretary: Roger Robb '86 then Mary Lynn (Bechdol) Bransford '85 then Vacant

Treasurer: Alumnus Theodore (Ted) Dressler

Board Member at Large: Governance: Roy DeHaven '85

Board Member at Large: Historian : Richard (Dick) Pearson '76

Board Member at Large: Social Media & Marketing: Susan Haley '82

2025 Reunion Chairperson: was Vacant until September 2022; Emilio Garcia '11

* Originally Reunion was postponed twice due to Federal and State COVID health emergency.

Hotel refused to continue postponement and refunded reservation deposit in full.

Board met via Zoom and decided impossible to predict safe time to have reunion.

Chose to preserve Alumni health, and cancelled Reunion. This forced board to extend their terms.

Corina Gutiérrez accepted position serving on NMSD Board of Regent creating conflict of interest with NMSDAA (based on knowledge of prior situation).

She resigned, and Mary Lynn (Bechdol) Bransford took the president position.

10th Reunion: September 18-20, 2025

140th NMSD Birthday

NMSDAA New Officers: 2025-2030:

President:

Vice President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

Board Members at Large:

Governance:

Historian:

Social Media & Marketing:

2030 Reunion Chairperson:

One representative from Los Alamos National Lab

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