So Long Fabian

(Book Cover)

New Mexico lost one of it's political giants today as Fabian Chavez died.

He was 88.

He tried to teach me about the New Mexico legislative process when I was assigned to cover the legislature, politics and elections for KOAT-TV way back in the 1970's.  Fabian was hired to help bolster our coverage - now he'd be a political analyst.

I learned a lot.

Here is a picture I took of Fabian in Mexico City about 1981 or so.

Fabian and NMSU President Gerald Thomas, on the left, are listening to Mexican Attorney General Oscar Flores Sanchez.   Also in the meeting, but not pictured, was Governor Bruce King. 

Flores was a former Governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

I was covering the Goodwill Visit of the New Mexico Amigos.

And here is Fabian peeking over the shoulder of State Senator Jack Eastham during KOAT-TV election coverage.  Fabian was our Democratic Party Expert.  Eastham was the GOP representative.  That's Dick Knipfing on the right and me in the middle.

A Gentle Man  -   Rest In Peace

Leonard Napolitano

A friend left us this week.  

Dr. Leonard Napolitano.

He died one day before his 83rd birthday.

I remember so many times seeing Leonard, as Dean of the UNM Medical School, slipping through the halls of the New Mexico Legislature, looking for a few crumbs to help build the medical school.   He found a lot of them.

In Santa Fe, Leonard and Bobby McBride would spend hours in the committee rooms - Bobby working on behalf of his clients and Leonard working on behalf of his school.

May they both be resting in peace - and watching the merry round house from above - enjoying a cigarette.

Pasadena Roses

Here are a few shots & thoughts about the 2013 Rose Parade.

It was warmer than we expected.

 Leading the way...the theme...

 

The most important job in a parade that has horses...you guessed it!

Raul Rodriguez and his parrot.  

A famous float designer, who usually rides on one of his floats.

The most popular spot on the block.

The traveling trio!

Rodger, Connie, Betty

Spotted in the neighborhood - it is SoCal after all!

A fun time was had by all.

You should do it sometime!

Rest, Mr. Speaker

Ben Lujan

Mr. Speaker

New Mexico House of Representatives

Mr. Speaker, may you rest in peace!

"It's a humbling experience, to say the least, and a deeply rewarding experience that we could contribute in some small way to make New Mexico and hopefully the U.S. and the world a better place," he said in his farewell speech at the end of the last session.

He was 77.

Santa Sighting

In a nearby parking lot yesterday...unsual sights.

Cops on horses & kids.

The Oreo cookie

The Coca Cola Polar Bear

Santa sighting!

Veteran's Day

Sam Beimer

1945

Germany

Those brave souls like my dad helped make this a much better world.

Thanks!  

You've been resting in peace for almost 25 years.

Twenty Years Ago

Twenty years ago on the eve of the 1992 election Bill Clinton came to town.  

Actually, it was Election Day - because it was after midnight - when he finally arrived.

And, if memory serves right, it was cold and breezy in that corner of the Albuquerque Sunport tarmac.

It was his last stop before getting home to Little Rock.

My wife, Connie, found the button in the "button file" this weekend.