1. Statewide FocusIssue 3 Volume 3
March 2011-June 2011
New Mexico Office of African American Affairs
A Monument to Honor
Courage and Sacrifice
Buffalo Soldiers

2. 2The Focus Magazine
Governor of the State of New Mexico
The Honorable Susana Martinez

3. 3 The Focus Magazine
The motto of the New Mexico Office of African American
Affairs is “Unity and Purpose.”
The saying is self explanatory. It is our firm belief that it
will take “Unity and Purpose” to move the New Mexico African
American community to a higher level. We are faced with societal
issues that adversely affect our quality of life. For example,
poverty, health disparities and access to health care, closing the
educational achievement gap, improper treatment of our senior
citizens and veterans, hate crimes, high incarceration rate of our
people, HIV-AIDS, gang violence, unemployment, and drug and
alcohol abuse are all pressing issues in our communities across
the State. Additionally, there is an apparent lack of a collective
effort to properly respond to the needs of our youth.
We respectfully submit that faith based entities, community
organizations, Black fraternities and sororities, along with local
and state agencies, should find a way to work in concert to improve
the overall condition of our community. It is our individual and
collective responsibility to do our part to make a difference. In the opinion of this writer, we continue
to let personality conflicts, egos, jealousy, and political affiliations keep us from making progress. More
specifically, some of us fail to engage with others because we worry about who will get the credit if a solution
is achieved.
Lastly, we, as a people can help ourselves. We cannot wait around for the system or someone else
to assist us. Historically, our determination has been well documented. We believe strongly that we owe
much more respect to those who came before us. Without the likes of Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass,
Dr. [Martin L.] King, Malcolm X and others, we, as a people, would still be only two steps away from the
plantation. We must do our part so the next generation will say, “Well done.”
Respectfully,
Dr. Harold Bailey
Executive Director, OAAA
State Office of
African American Affairs
Call for “Unity and Purpose”

4. 4The Focus Magazine
Contact us:
State of New Mexico Office of
African American Affairs
1015 Tijeras NW Suite 102
Albuquerque, NM 87102
1-866-747-6935 Toll-Free
(505) 222-9405
(505) 222-9489 Fax
website www.state.nm.us/hsd/oaaa
State of New Mexico
Office of African
American Affairs
Office staff members from (l-r), Edward Hakim Bellamy, Danielle Green,
Angela Nichols, Harold Bailey, PhD, Gary D. Williams, and Koren Stewart
Staff Directory
Harold Bailey PhD,
Executive Director
Office: 505-222-9447
Harold.bailey@state.nm.us
Gary D. Williams,
Deputy Director
Office: 505-222-9443
Garyd.williams@state.nm.us
Danielle Green,
Budget Analyst
Office: 505-222-9441
DanielleR.Green@state.nm.us
Koren Stewart,
Program Specialist
Office: 505-222-9497
Koren.stewart@state.nm.us
Edward Hakim Bellamy,
Program Specialist
Office: 505-222-9442
Edwardh.bellamy@state.nm.us
Angela Nichols,
Receptionist
Office: 505-222-9405
AngelaV.Nichols@state.nm.us

5. 5 The Focus Magazine
Table of Contents
Contents
Networking New Mexico’s African American Community Statewide•••5
New Mexico Office of African American Affairs 8th
Annual Awards Banquet•••6-8
Creating Future Scientists•••9
State of New Mexico to Memorialize Buffalo Soldiers•••10
Introducing Artist Ben Hazard•••11
Annual Small Businesses “Meet the Buyers” Showcased by Office of African
American Affairs•••12
Miss Hobbs Juneteenth 2011•••12
Internship Program Provides Invaluable Experience and Opportunities for
Youth•••13
Coaches Provide Opportunities Beyond the Basketball Court•••14
Juneteenth in Albuquerque•••15
Mrs. Mattie Fields: A Lady with a Heart of Joy•••16
Park Dedication Ceremony Honors Former Commissioner•••17
Farmington Special Senior Awards Banquet•••18
Juneteenth event supports community groups•••19
Juneteenth in Rio Rancho•••20
Justus E. Bowe, Jr. Honored•••21
Santa Fe Senior Awards Banquet•••22
African American Museum and Cultural Center Includes Santa Fe•••23
Young Man Going Places•••23
This year’s ( 2011/2012) scholarship winners from the General Lloyd W. “Fig”
Newton Chapter, Tuskegee Airman Incorporated•••24
Violence and the Cost of Silence•••25
Did you know?•••25
From the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American
Community•••25
CELEBRATING SISTER NORINE: A Life of Compassion
Courage and Christ-likeness•••26
A ‘GENTLE GIANT,’ MELVIN V. HANKS, SR.•••27
The 2011 state track and field competition brought to light the color
and beauty of competition at its best from around our state.•••28 &••29
Publication Staff
Publish Layout & Design
Ron Wallace
Editor
Marsha K. Hardeman
Contributors of: Articles and
Photos for this Issue
- Carolyn Peeler Alamogordo
- Anne R. Simpson, MD,
Albuquerque
-Victoria Steadman Crosby
Albuquerque
- Khadijah Bottom, Hobbs
- Cathy Marshall, Hobbs
- Ryan Boetel The Daily Times
Farmington
- Santa Fe New Mexican
-Awards Banquet Photos
Leroy Brown, Albuquerque
VOICES
Voices Program
1550 AM Radio KIVA
Sunday mornings @ 9:05 AM
Hosted by Gary D. Williams, Deputy Director, OAAA
Networking New Mexico’s African American
Community Statewide

6. 6The Focus Magazine
The Office of African American
Affairs’ Annual Awards Banquet,
recognizes the accomplishments of
individuals and programs that have
impacted the lives ofAfricanAmericans.
It continues to be a highlight event for
New Mexico.
Dr. Harold Bailey and his staff
continue to pave the way for citizens of
the State of New Mexico to embrace the
totality of the multi-cultural diaspora that
marks the uniqueness of New Mexico.
The Annual Awards Banquet
provides statewide visibility of
outstanding participation of African
Americans in all facets of New Mexico’s
continuing growth and development.
The June 2011 banquet was held at
the Embassy Suites, and included a full
house of well-wishers, dignitaries, friends
and family members of those being
honored; and of course the honorees who
have served our state so well.
This was the 8th year of an ongoing
activity of the Office ofAfricanAmerican
Affairs to present annual awards to
individuals and organizations that have
tirelessly worked to improve the quality
of life for everyone who lives in the
communities throughout New Mexico.
The 2011 recognition awards were issued
in the following areas of service:
The Community Service honorees
were recognized for countless hours of
work within the community. Working
to create safer neighborhoods, ministry
work, providing youth and women
services, preparing meal service for the
homeless and elderly, mentoring and
career advisement, and working with law
enforcement toward crime reduction.
Health Service awardees have
shown a commitment to changing the
delivery system of health care services
in New Mexico to ensure that the needs
of minorities are being met by providing
opportunities to recruit and train minority
students in health care fields, and by
providing medical/dental services in
underserved communities.
Education Service awardees were
recognized for their contributions toward
the provision of quality education for
children and adults in New Mexico.
Through the Honorees’ efforts, many
within the State are better prepared to
face the challenges presented in life.
These awardees have diligently worked
on tasks such as development of youth
programs, career counseling, counseling
services related to drugs and alcohol, and
youth development programs at schools
and churches.
The Human Rights Service
awardees have steadily disregarded
traditional norms by standing up against
injustice wherever it rears its ugly head.
When the country appeared comfortable
with a system of inequality that bred
racial discrimination, these individuals
stepped forward and insisted on change
at both the state and national levels.
New Mexico Office of African American Affairs
8th Annual Awards Banquet
Richard J. Berry, Mayor City of
Albuquerque
State Representative
Conrad James, District 24
Ryan Cangiolosi, Deputy Chief of
Staff Governor’s Office
Cavanaugh Mims, President of
Visionary Solutions LLC ,
Signature Sponsor for the Banquet
The following photos are of the
special guest attendees, while the
next two pages are of the honorees
being recognized for special
services.

7. 7 The Focus Magazine
Recognition for Outstanding Community Services
Don Davis & Martha Whitman –
Albuquerque, NM
Don Perkins – Albuquerque, NM
Fellowship
Missionary
Baptist Church,
Prison Ministry
Team –
Albuquerque, NM
Dr. Sistar Yancy – Clovis, NMOpal Marie Cole – Farmington, NM URENCO USA – Eunice, NM
Recognition for Outstanding Heath Services
Dr. Jamal Martin –
Albuquerque, NM
Dr. Anne Simpson –
Albuquerque, NM
Continued on next page
Head Table

8. 8The Focus Magazine
Recognition for Outstanding Educational Services
Ruthie Owens –
Albuquerque, NM
Charles Lowery –
Albuquerque, NM Lt. Col. Robert Jackson –
Albuquerque, NM
Clarence Fielder –
Las Cruces, NM
Dr. Tamara Moore-Callahan –
Clovis, NM
Dr. Sandra Taylor-Sawyer –
Clovis, NM
Recognition for Outstanding Human Rights Services
Sam Bone –
Las Cruces, NM
St. Bede’s Episcopal Church
– Santa Fe, NM
Pastor Neil Johnson –
Farmington, NM
Kimberly Ross-Toledo –
Farmington, NM

9. 9 The Focus Magazine
Creating Future Scientists
Continued
On
page 24
The Office of African American
Affairs sponsored a special program
to provide additional incentives for
student’s successful matriculation
into careers in the areas of Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM). Students who
have excelled in these areas in school
were provided a special award at a
recognition ceremony that was held
at the National Museum of Nuclear
Science and History.
Students were identified through
programs that work with students in
these areas throughout the year. The
program administrators, Debra Johns,
Jocelyn Jackson and Tameka Huff,
work with programs that provide a
supportive community environment,
academic support services, and
coordinates informational workshops
that supplies students with support in
the STEM areas.
The student award recipients
pictured in this article are identified
as outstanding achievers.
Pictured on the left,
event speakers,
Charles Lowery, Dir.
of Development,
The Nat’l Museum
of Nuclear Science
and History, and
Dr. Patricia Wagner,
Curriculum Coord.
Science, Health &
PE, APS, Speakers
also included Gary
Williams and Tony
Begay.
Alexis Rollins
Bountouraby Sylla
Devonte’ Watson Santina Gonzales
Taylor Griffin
LaMontaneice Austin
Gary Williams, Deputy
Director Office of African
American Affairs
Tony Begay, Exec.
Director Math,
Engineering, Science,
Achievement (MESA), Inc.
Oniezis Johnson
Jemila Haynes Phillip Brooks

10. 10The Focus Magazine
The Office of African American
Affairs launched a fund raising campaign
to recognize the incredible acts of valor
and unselfish sacrifices of the Buffalo
Soldiers. The plan to erect a monument
containing a statue of a Buffalo Soldier
was revealed in June of this year at the
New Mexico Veterans Memorial, at 1100
Louisiana, S.E., in Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
The kickoff event introduced the
Veterans Memorial as the planned site for
the monument’s location. Mayor Richard
J. Berry of the City of Albuquerque, Dr.
Harold Bailey, Executive Director of
African American Affairs, Frederick B.
Hampton of the Buffalo Soldiers Society
of New Mexico, and artist Ben Hazard,
who will be building the project, provided
remarks.
ThesignificanceoftheoftheBuffalo
Soldier sculpture is described by artist
Ben Hazard; “To have [one] individual
represent a body of incredible individuals,
such as the Buffalo Soldiers, is asking
a lot of one person. Nevertheless, Sgt.
Brent Woods is worthy of the [honor].
It was through his heroics, after his
commanding officers had been killed, that
the lives of many New Mexicans were
saved. It will be through his gallantry
that the Buffalo Soldiers of New Mexico
will be represented.”
The Buffalo Soldiers received their
name from the Comanche Indians as a
sign of great respect for them as warriors.
The statue will depict Sgt. Brent Woods
standing at attention, with the symbol
of the Buffalo etched in a wall of black
granite that will be positioned behind
him. Also included in the wall will be
a plaque detailing the historic account
of the life of Sgt. Brent Woods.
Hazard shared additional details
about the statue; “Since men at that
time were typically, not tall, the plan
is to have the statue provide a realistic
portrayal of their time. There were not
many men who were six feet tall and
over, so the decision was made to have
the statue from base to top be around 5
feet tall.”
The State Office of African
AmericanAffairs is proud to be playing a
key role in this monumental undertaking
by the State of New Mexico to honor
the Buffalo Soldiers who contributed so
much to the State’s rich history.
Individuals wishing to make a
donation in support of the monument
honoring the contributions of the Buffalo
Soldiers should make checks payable to
Kesselman -Jones Inc.
State of New Mexico to
Memorialize Buffalo Soldiers
Office ofAfricanAmericanAffairs, 1015
Tijeras NW, Alb., NM 87102
For additional information call (505)
222-9405 or visit our website:
www.oaaa.state.nm.us
Thank you in advance for your greatly
needed and appreciated support.
From left to right, Dr. Harold Bailey, artist Ben Hazard, Gary Williams
and Mayor Richard J. Berry, displayed the painting of the Buffalo
soldier.
Members of The Buffalo
Soldier motorcycle club were
in attendance.
The local chapter of Buffalo
Soldiers played a key role in the
day’s activities.
Dr. Harold Bailey and Gary
Williams being interviewed by a
Channel 13 reporter.

11. 11 The Focus Magazine
Ben Hazard is a graduate of the
California College of Arts & Crafts in
Oakland where he received his Bachelors
of FineArts Degree with distinction, and
holds a Master Degree of Art from the
University of California at Berkeley.As
an artist, Hazard is known for his unique
acrylic plastic sculptures, pioneered in the
70’s, and his sensitive and provocative
portrait-like charcoal drawings.
He has exhibited in galleries,
museums and educational institutions
throughout the United States.
He also exhibited at the World Fair in
Osaka, Japan, representing the State
of California. Among other significant
accomplishments, Mr. Hazard designed
the official flag for the County ofAlameda
and served on the Board of theAlameda
County Arts Commission. In addition,
he was commissioned by the State of
California to lead theArt-in-Architecture
program for the Elihu Harris California
State Building.
He was commissioned by the East
Bay Utility District to produce a two-ton
life size bronze sculpture, “In the Spirit”
and a 9’ x 15’steel sculpture, “Coming
Together,” an abstract tubular form that
symbolizes unity between EBMUD and
the community, located at the entrance
of their new maintenance building in
Oakland.
As former Dean of Applied and
Fine Arts and Physical Education at
Laney College, he designed a new state-
of-the- art Fitness Center and consulted
on the design and construction of the
college’s new Art Center and Tennis
Courts. In addition to creating art, Ben
has taught art at the University of Nevada
at Reno, Stanford University, and at
Merritt and Laney Colleges in Oakland,
CA. As former Curator of Special
Exhibits and Education at the Oakland
Museum of California, he received
national recognition for involving
diverse communities into the museum
setting as active partners in the planning
and execution of museum program and
events. Hazard became the Director of
the Crafts & Cultural Arts Department
for the City of Oakland from year 2000
through 2003 under then Mayor, and now
Governor, Jerry Brown, administering
$3.5 million annually to artists and arts
organizations.
Hazard, was appointed by President
Jimmy Carter to the Institute of Museum
Service Board in Washington, DC. He
sat on the National Science Foundation
Panel, and the National Endowment for
the Arts and the Humanities Panels. He
served as: President of the American
Association of Museums (AAM)
Educators; Council Member American
Association of Museums;Advisory Board
Member, of theAAM Lifelong Learning
in the Humanities.
Ben Hazard was also commissioned
to do a portrait of President Obama and
his family in 2007. The portrait is now
hanging in the family’s Private quarters
Introducing Artist Ben Hazard
in the White House.
Ben Hazard came to New Mexico
in July 2010, and has madeAlbuquerque
his home and is now teaching at the
University of New Mexico, in the
Africana Studies Program.
Hazard’s first visit to New Mexico
was to attend a museum conference in
Santa Fe when he was a museum curator
in the mid-70s. This time he came to
New Mexico because he had a brother
who lives here who was ill. “I came out
to help my brother who is doing better
now. However, I stayed here because
I fell in love with the open sky; I love
the mountains, the space and the culture
here. I feel this is a beautiful opportunity
for me to slow down but not have to stop
completely,” shared Hazard.
Hazard said that the work that he
will put into this project has to match
the greatness of individuals it will
represent. “I’m looking forward to the
opportunity,” says Hazard.
Maria and Joseph
Andreson, who reside
in Palo Alto, California
are standing with
President Barack
Obama as they display
the painting of the
Obama family. The
Andresons are the ones
who commissioned
artist Ben Hazard to
provide the artwork
that now hangs in the
family quarters of the
White House.
Above artist Ben Hazard displays
the monument and the statue that
will be placed on the site of the
New Mexico Veterans Memorial.

12. 12The Focus Magazine
The New Mexico Office ofAfrican
American Affairs, in conjunction with
the State Economic Development
Department and the General Services
Department, hosted the 8th
Annual
Minority Businesses “Meet the Buyers”
workshop and luncheon on Wednesday,
May 11th
at the CNM Workforce Training
Center.
Speakers included officials of the
New Mexico Office ofAfricanAmerican
Affairs, Economic Development
Department, General Services
Department, State Regulation and
Licensing, Veterans Services Department
and other state and local government
agencies,institutions of higher learning,
and the private sector. Several newly
appointed and elected officials were
present or represented.
The primary purpose of this event
is to promote economic development
and to bring minority, small, and women
owned businesses together to discuss
the process of procuring contracts with
local and state governments. Buyers
and federal government resources were
available in the afternoon for one-on-one
sessions with businesses.
“This annual workshop was
developed to encourage New Mexico’s
minority business sector to compete
for primary and sub-contracting
Annual Small Businesses “Meet the Buyers”
Showcased by Office of African American Affairs
opportunities,” said Dr. Harold Bailey, Executive Director of the State
Office of African American Affairs. “[This was] an opportunity to learn
how to do business with governmental agencies.”
Miss Hobbs Juneteenth 2011
Jolie Kolleen Baldwin is 17 years
old and a recent honor graduate of
Hobbs High School.
ShewasamemberoftheNational
Honor Society, Student Council, and
is presently a junior member of the
NAACP. She is involved in athletics
as well as other extracurricular
activities.
Continued on page14
On the left, Dr.
Harold Bailey
greets Economic
Development Cabinet
Secretary, Jon Barela,
and on the right,
Cabinet Secretary
of General Services
Department, Edwynn
L. Burckle, addresses
the audience.
Dr. Harold Bailey looks on with small
business owners

13. 13 The Focus Magazine
Meet Ephraim Ian Colbert, who
is currently enrolled in the Business
Internship Program sponsored in
partnership by the Office of African
American Affairs, the University of
New Mexico’s Purchasing Department,
and Central New Mexico’s Purchasing
Department.
Gaston DeVigne is the Business
Liaison and facilitator of the Internship
Program for the Office of African
American Affairs. Tom Weeks, the
Associate Director of Purchasing for the
University of New Mexico, and Charlotte
Gensler, the Director of Purchasing for
Central New Mexico, are the coordinating
partners for their respective colleges.
Wm. Scott Carreathers, Director of
AfricanAmerican Student Services at the
University of New Mexico campus, has
played an important role in identifying
students to participate in the Internship
Program.
The Internship Program was
initiated as an outgrowth of the ‘Meet the
Buyers’workshop luncheon, sponsored
by the Office ofAfricanAmericanAffairs.
The program promotes the preparation
and hiring of minorities into business
positions in certain sectors where they
have been nearly invisible.
Ephraim becomes the fifth student
to be enrolled in the program which has
already been successful in providing
valuable experience and contacts for
its previous graduates. Former student,
and the first graduate of the program,
Danielle Green, shared these thoughts
about her time in the program. “It was
an enlightening experience that opened
my eyes to many things. The program
provided me training and understanding
that I know I could never have obtained
without the door being opened for my
internship.” Green eventually became
a BudgetAnalyst for the State Office of
African American Affairs.
Ephraim is currently working as a
Purchasing Assistant at the University
of New Mexico Purchasing Department.
His duties entail developing proposals,
preparing purchase orders and creating
dialogue between vendors and staff at
the University. He is also working on a
“4-P Evaluation Criteria,” where, “the
goal of the criteria is designed to ensure
fiscal stewardship while promoting
practices that improve public health
and safety, reduce pollution, conserve
natural resources, promote social equity,
and human rights. UNM will do this by
establishing business relationships with
vendors and manufacturers who share
our University’s values and concerns
for the environment. The 4-P stands for
Planet, People, Price, and Performance,”
shared Ephraim.
Ephraim is the oldest child of
Loretta and Burt Colbert, with two
brothers, Immanuel and Joseph, and
a baby sister, Candace. Their father
served at the Rantoul Air Force Base
in Illinois. The military moved their
family to England and later to New
Mexico, where they have been for the
past 12 years.
Ephraim attended Rio Rancho High
school and will be graduating from the
University of New Mexico the summer
of 2011. In 2009, he completed the
AmeriCorps Vista summer program
working in Organizational Development
withEduardoMartinezattheNewMexico
Forum for Youth in Community. He has
also been a member of the Readymade
Dance Company since the spring of
2008. Ephraim traveled and performed
in San Francisco, as well as having a
featured partnered dance film in the 2011
Wild Dancing West, which took place
earlier this month. Ephraim has also
written articles and submitted photos
to Avanthop.com a music, fashion, and
culture website. He is an avid bicyclist,
cycling more than ten miles a week.
Internship Program Provides Invaluable Experience
and Opportunities for Youth
Tom Weeks, the Associate Director of Purchasing for the
University Mexico, Ephraim Ian Colbert, Dr. Harold Bailey,
Executive Director of the Office of African American Affairs and
Gaston DeVigne, the Business Liaison and facilitator of the
Internship Program for the Office of African American Affairs.
Continued on page19

14. 14The Focus Magazine
Alamogordo
Coaches Ross Romero and Lenard
McMillan continue to make a difference
in the lives of young men. They have
been involved in boys youth basketball
programs for 10+ years. Coaches Ross
and Lenard coach the 16-17 year old
boy’s basketball team for the New Mexico
Force Basketball Club.
As the organizations co-founder,
Ross has a passion for providing
opportunities for young men. The New
Mexico Force is a non-profit, 501c
(3), organization dedicated to working
with young men ages 10 through 17.
Its objective is to provide a positive
environment and outlet for the top
basketball players throughout the entire
state of New Mexico, El Paso, Texas, and
other bordering states. The club stresses
the importance of family, schoolwork, and
development of players at all levels.
During their time as coaches, Ross
and Lenard have achieved much success
for players of the teams that they have
coached. Through the New Mexico Force
program,severalyoungmenhavereceived
scholarship opportunities to continue their
academic studies past the high school
Coaches Provide Opportunities Beyond the
Basketball Court
level. Some of these young men
include: Daniel Farris/former player
at UNM, Mark Walters/former player
at UNM, Cassey Cunningham/former
player at USC, Gordo Castillo/former
player NMSU, Matt Peeler/University
of Evansville, Marcus Williams/Sam
Houston State University, etc.
Coaches Ross and Lenard have
instilled in these players the courage
and character to become successful.
Their primary goal is to produce highly
visible student athletes who will have
the opportunity to receive athletic
scholarships to play at the college level.
The New Mexico Force Basketball
Club’s program allows each athlete
the ability to:
* Make physical activity a part of
everyday life
* Develop self confidence and self
esteem
* Promote positive interpersonal
communications skills
* Develop strength, flexibility, and
coordination
* Instill the relationship between goals
and how to attain those goals through
self discipline and dedication
The team has been invited to several
tournaments including; the Kingwood
Classic in Kingwood, TX; the Reebok
Classic in Las Vegas, NV; and the Nike
Classic in Las Vegas, NV. If you would
like to obtain more information about
the NM Force Basketball Club, provide
assistance, or become a sponsor, please
contact Coach Ross Romero at (505)
977-7625 or go to the website at nmforce.
com.
Lenard McMillan Ross Romero
By Carolyn Peeler
Jolie volunteers to work in her
community and says one of her most
memorable achievements was winning
the Statewide Essay Contest in Santa
Fe, New Mexico. “It was a magnificent
experience to read my essay to the House
of Representatives, and in the presence
of the admirable ReverendAl Sharpton,
and the National Caucus of Black School
Board Members Scholarship.”
An accomplished track and field
athlete, Jolie has received a NMJC Track
Scholarship as well as 10 other local
scholarships.
She is presently attending the New
Mexico Junior College this summer.
Her plans are completing two years at
the NMJC, and to transfer to Midland
College, to major in both Radiology and
Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
Miss Hobbs
Juneteenth 2011
Continued from page 12

15. 15 The Focus Magazine

16. 16The Focus Magazine
Clovis
Mattie Fields of Clovis, New
Mexico was born Mattie Martin in 1917,
in Marlin, Texas. She was one of nine
children, with six girls and three boys,
to parents Elizabeth and Scott Martin.
She was next to the youngest, and she
has just turned 94 years old. Mattie is the
sole surviving member of her immediate
family.
Mattie grew up spending her
childhood just after slavery ended.
In fact, her grandparents were raised
at a time when the residue of slavery
was still a reality. The money that her
grandparents earned from the land that
they lived on was paid to a plantation
owner, and was never equal to
what they were entitled to have
earned.
Her education consisted of
completing the sixth grade before
she had to go to work in the fields.
Mattie was required to work to
help the family, as were her other
brothers and sisters. Her day would
begin before the sun was up, and
she and her family would work in
the fields picking and chopping
cotton until sunset. While living in
Texas, Mattie would find and marry
her soul mate, Alcie Fields, who
was from Fort Worth, Texas.
Mattie and Alcie moved to
Clovis, N.M. when her older sister,
Ozzie, and her husband, Calvin,
moved to New Mexico and the
majority of their family followed
them to the Land of Enchantment.
All but one family member would
move to Clovis, with one of the sisters
remaining in Marlin, Texas. Upon their
arrival in New Mexico, Mattie and her
family took a variety of jobs working
as cooks and other positions within
restaurants and cafés.
Through their union, Mattie and
Alcie would have one child, a daughter,
Lila, and later, five grandchildren and 12
great-grandchildren.Alcie was Mattie’s
lifelong love and companion until his
passing in 2002.
Mattie worked much of her career
as a cook, and she would eventually finish
her working career in the public school
system’s cafeteria where she worked for
nearly 20 years before retiring.
Mattie pointed out that one constant
throughout her lifetime has been her
involvement in the church. Mattie and
her family were actually instrumental as
one of the founding families of Westside
Baptist Church, that would eventually
become known as the Triangle Baptist
Church in Clovis, New Mexico.
The historical events that stand out
for Mattie during her lifetime, spanning
over nine decades, have been the work
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and his
accomplishments for the advancement of
BlackAmericans. She didn’t believe that
she would live to see a black president.
She marvels that she lived to see Barack
Obama become the first Black President
of the United States ofAmerica, and that
is another historic accomplishment that
she is most proud of. She also stated
that Harriet Tubman was one of her
childhood heroes for her activities with
the Underground Railroad that led slaves
to freedom.
Mattie is a lifetime member of
Triangle Baptist Church, currently under
the leadership of Pastor Terry G. Martin,
who is her brother’s grandson.
In their early years, before they
moved to New Mexico, the Martins were
a family of singers.At one time, formed
a group called the Martin Singers, who
traveled and performed in the southwest
region of Texas. The group consisted of
Mattie, her five sisters and her daughter,
Lila.
Mattie is extremely proud of her
daughter, Lila Salmon, who became
a well-known singer in Chattanooga,
Tennessee back in the late 60’s. Lila’s
church in Chattanooga, Tenn., the Second
Baptist Church, paid her to produce an
album. She also produced 45’s that
were sent back to Clovis and gave the
residents a reason to be proud of her
accomplishments as well.
Following a stroke in 2009, Mattie
needed someone to keep a constant and
close watch on her. She was moved to
a retirement ranch in Clovis and has a
constant flow of family members coming
Continued on page26
Mrs. Mattie Fields: A Lady with a Heart of Joy
A legacy of five generations.
Mattie is seated in front holding
her fifth-generation grandchild,
Deja Donelle Hall, standing behind
from (left to right), are Mary Louise
Hall, her oldest granddaughter, her
great-granddaughter Jatonne Hall
and Lila Salmon, her daughter.

17. 17 The Focus Magazine
Hobbs
The Juneteenth celebration in
Hobbs, New Mexico was highlighted
with a special dedication to one of the
city’s most respected and cherished
citizens, former Commissioner Carl
Anthony Mackey.
Carl had been a popular people’s
champion for the Hobbs community
for many years, before his unexpected
passing at the end of 2010. His niece
Crystal Hodge-Mullins is currently
completing his term as commissioner.
“This year our Juneteenth
celebration was centered on the life of
Carl Mackey. Carl was a hero for the
entire city of Hobbs, and he valued the
promotion of his community, city, state
and nation. He worked hard to make
sure that everyone had the opportunity
to enjoy a full life,” says Cathy Marshall,
one of the organizers of the Juneteenth
celebration.
The dedication ceremony began as
part of the Juneteenth parade in which the
Mackey family was escorted in vehicles
provided by Permain Ford, one of the
local car dealerships in Hobbs.
The eventual location for the
ceremony was at the Booker T.
Washington Park, which is the location
for the softball field that is being named
in honor of Carl Anthony Mackey. The
physical location of the park in Hobbs
is the corner of Marland and 4th Street,
and covers the entire block.
Current and former commissioners,
family members and friends soaked up
the sun at the dedication ceremony. They
exchanged wonderful words of gratitude
for Carl’s lifetime of volunteer service to
the community of Hobbs and for his time
served as the Commissioner of District 3.
Congressman Steve Pearce and Mayor
Gary Don Reagan shared special words
of tribute to the life of Carl Mackey.
In addition to the dignitaries speaking
at the ceremony, the family’s pastor
Ernest Hodge shared words of Carl’s
dedication as a Christian and a worker
with a passion to please God through
service for others. It is estimated that
there was in excess of over 125 people
in attendance for the special dedication
ceremony.
Members of the Mackey family
received articles of dedication associated
with the official naming of the “Carl
Mackey Field” from Mayor Gary Don
Reagan. The field is marked by a cement
monument inscribed with his name in
memory of his dedication to the city of
Hobbs. It is also inscribed with details
of his work and accomplishments over
the years.
“This is a very special day for me
because our family gets the opportunity
to share with our community in the
honoring of their friend and the leader
of our family,” shared Carl’s wife Lois
Mackey. Lois also had the honor of
tossing out the first ball for the softball
game that would follow the official
ceremony. Plans are to make the softball
tournament an annual event at the “Carl
Mackey Field” in honor of the former
commissioner. The annual softball
tournament will serve as a scholarship
fund raiser to be awarded in Carl’s name
to a local high school graduate with plans
to attend college.
CommissionerCarlMackeyworked
tirelessly to rebuild his community,
and Booker T. Washington Park was
one of his most pointed objectives for
revitalization. The softball field had been
closed for over 30 years. Carl along with
other community leaders, Cathy Marshall
and Wanda Bell, worked diligently to
reconstruct the park and the softball
field to make it a safe environment
for the community. The park had been
laced with shootings, and other acts of
violence and crime. The reconstruction
has changed the nature of the park and
has made it a place where the community,
and those visiting the park from other
communities, could find it to be a safe
haven for activities.
In his capacity as Commissioner,
Carl worked hard to get other things
done such as the addition of trees and
other extremities to raise the quality of
the aesthetics of the park.
“Carl would want to make sure
that everyone felt safe and secure, and
he wanted others to be able to visit our
neighborhoods, and visit our parks and
feel comfortable in doing so. It was
important to him that all cultures were
valued and treated with the utmost
respect, not just the African American
culture. We wanted to honor and pay
tribute to him for what he had done for
us throughout his lifetime. He had been
instrumental in the development of our
children, and we needed to do something
special to make sure his legacy will
always be remembered. He took pride in
helping others, and you could call him
anytime of the day or night, that was
Carl,” shared Cathy Marshall.
Park Dedication Ceremony Honors Former Commissioner
Carl Mackey standing with his
family as their leader, and as his
community’s hero.

18. 18The Focus Magazine
Farmington
Special Senior Awards Banquet
Honorees and sponsors from (left to right)
Sponsor Dr. Harold Bailey, Executive Director, OAAA
Jim Baker, Navajo Ministries,
Tom Dugan, Dugan Production Corporation
Mayor Tommy Roberts, representing Felix Briones,
Briones Law Firm PA
Alice Gibson,
Maime L. Garner
Wilbert C. Garner, Sr.
Pastor H.R. Fleetwood
The Farmington Senior Recognition Banquet May 21, 2011. The
banquet recognized eight individuals from the city of Farmington
who have contributed invaluable service to their community and
have made contributions to the advancement of African Americans.
The Keynote Speaker for
the event was Pastor Neil
Johnson, of Ideal Baptist
Church
Mayor Tommy Roberts, of the City
of Farmington, opens the ceremony
with a welcome for the seniors
being honored, and their family and
friends.

19. 19 The Focus Magazine
Farmington
By Ryan Boetel The Daily Times
Posted: 06/26/2011
FARMINGTON — Five local
churches and the city joined together
to bring a nationwide celebration to
Farmington and raise money for the
Boys and Girls Club.
It was the first-ever Juneteenth
Unity Celebration at Berg Park in
Farmington. Juneteenth celebrations
recognize the date on which the
Emancipation Proclamation was read
aloud in Galveston, Texas, June 19,
1865, two years and five months after
the order was issued by President
Abraham Lincoln. It signaled that
African American freedom had spread
into the West, Neil Johnson, the pastor
at Ideal Baptist Church, said.
The local churches rented booths
for $50 each to restaurants, the National
Guard and faith-based organizations.
Children purchased tickets to inflatable
trampoline games. And Johnson
prepared high-quality barbecue with a
Bureau of Land Management smoker
and sold plates to raise money for the
group of churches. Johnson works for
the BLM.
The five Farmington churches
formed United to Help two years ago.
One of the group’s goals is to host a
Juneteenth celebration every summer
to raise funds for critical community
organizations.
The group raised about $1,000 for
the Family Crisis Center last year. “We
didn’t want it to turn into a celebration
— just like Riverfest,” Johnson said.
“We wanted to do it with a
purpose.”
About 100 people were at the
Juneteenth Festival for much of Saturday
afternoon. A band played Christian
music in the background, and families
moved about the park, eating together in
the shaded areas or gathering information
about the organizations that purchased
booths at the event.
Joe O’Neil was at a booth to talk
about the Southern Baptist Disaster
Relief’s Farmington Unit. About 50
people from a variety of churches
comprise the Farmington unit and
serve food at disaster sites. The group
sent volunteers to Missouri after recent
tornado destruction and is on standby to
go to New Mexico or Arizona wildfire
sites.
“We don’t go out to propagate, our
goal is to go out take care of people in a
disaster,” O’Neil, the pastor at Mountain
Vista Baptist Church, said.
Carolyn Evans had a booth to talk
about Isaiah Ministries, which she started
16 years ago. The group started when
she dropped off a collection of bibles at
the county jail and has morphed into an
organization with 25 local volunteers
who travel across New Mexico and west
Texas, praying with inmates at eight
jails and prisons and counseling recently
released felons.
“You’d be surprised at the people
with family members in jail,” she said.
United to Help decided to raise
funds for the Boys and Girls Club
because the clubs are often in need of
money and provide children with positive
role models, said Joe Barela, the pastor
at Crouch Mesa Baptist Church.
“I grew up in Albuquerque at
the YMCA and I know how important
that was for me,” he said. “I loved the
guys that volunteered there. ... They
encouraged me to be who I am today.”
Ryan Boetel: rboetel@daily-times.
com
Juneteenth event supports
community groups
“I haven’t owned a vehicle for three
years,” said Ephraim.
Ephraim says that his mother,
Loretta, has been the most influential
person in his life. “My mom installed
core Christian values that have stuck
with me through adulthood. Through
extended influences, artistically, I am
impacted by the work of Jean Michel
Basquiat and Mark Gonzales. Politically,
[I am influenced by] Congressman
Dennis J. Kucinich, and locally by
Eduardo Martinez and Tom Weeks.”
After graduating this summer,
Ephraim plans to continue with his
passion for dancing and he is also
planning a trip to SouthAmerica where
he will be spending time in Chile and
Brazil, hopefully, working with the
countries’at risk youth. Once he returns,
he plans to look for employment in New
Mexico or in one of the neighboring,
southwestern states and studying for
the LSAT in preparation for admission
to law school.
Ephraim had these thoughts
to share about his time as an intern
PurchasingAssistant at the University of
New Mexico’s Purchasing Department.
“It feels good to be part of something
larger than yourself. Assisting the
needs for UNM’s different departments
by finding them the best goods and
services is a very rewarding feeling.
The experience has been challenging
and enlightening. It has opened my eyes
to many things that I never knew about
the business world.”
He concluded with these thoughts
about his career choice, “I was drawn to
this career field because it is projected
as a growing job field. You are also a
key player in an organization, trying to
find savings as well as quality goods and
services. It’s also interesting because
every proposal is different, and you
are able to meet new people with every
project.”
Continued from page 13
Internship Program

20. 20The Focus Magazine

21. 21 The Focus Magazine
Roswell
Mr. Justus E. Bowe Jr. was born
in Cotton Plant, Arkansas to Justus E.
Bowe, Sr. and Vorce Bowe. He was
raised by Justus, Sr. and Emma Bowe,
his step-mother, after his mother died.
He was an industrious young child,
who worked many odd jobs, including
selling newspapers, picking blackberries,
doing lawn and maintenance work, and
working in a saw mill, the younger Justus
helped, financially; taking care of 11
younger sisters and brothers.
Justus left home as a teenager and
served in the United States Air Force in
Law Enforcement and Security, which
included serving during ceremonies for
dignitaries in the different countries
where he was stationed. He also earned
the Air Force Commendation Medal
while serving his country.
He met and married his wife,
Christine, of 52 years. While in the
military, they had three children, Rodney,
Michelle, and Nadeem. They have also
been blessed with three grandchildren,
Olivia, Solomon, and Justus.
Upon retiring from the Air Force
after 20 years of service, Justus embarked
on a second round of careers in Roswell,
New Mexico. He held positions as a
Comprehensive Employment and
Training Job Developer (under the
O.C.E.T.A. program) for the State of
New Mexico, a Personnel Technician
at the N.M. Rehabilitation Center, and
finally, served as an Employment and
Training Representative at the N.M.
Department of Labor/Local Veterans.
In addition to working full time,
he was also a full time dad, supporting,
chaperoning, and transporting his
children in their many extracurricular
academic, fine arts, and sports activities.
He took individual time with each child
to instill character and values. Rodney,
Michelle, and Nadeem understand the
family motto, “A Bowe is supposed to
know.”
The elder Bowe has not limited
sharing his knowledge, energy, and time
to his family. In past years, he served
as a board member for the Roswell
Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters,
Roswell High School Parent Advisory
Committee, Tobosa Developmental
Service, Roswell Cemetery-South
Park, and the Community Foundation
of Chaves County.
A lifelong learner, Justus also
participated in the curriculum of the
Roswell Leadership Program. Justus has
continued to serve his community after
his second retirement from the State of
New Mexico and presently serves on
several boards, including the Washington
Chapel Christian Worship Center, where
he and Christine are proud members, the
First Tee of Pecos Valley, the Blackdom
Memorial, Inc., and the board for the Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative
Breakfast. In 2009, Bowe received the
HumanitarianAward at the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast
ceremony. Mrs. Bowe often comments
that Justus is busier, now, in retirement,
than he was while working a full time
job!
Justus has continued to share his
time, talent, and treasures with his family
and with the community of Roswell.
Additionally, he still finds time to relax
and fish, as well as travel the country
visiting family. He does not profess to
know everything, but constantly seeks
relationships to continue building his
knowledge base, even at the age of 78,
hence the family motto, “A Bowe is
supposed to know.”
Justus E. Bowe Jr. Honored
Justus E. Bowe Jr. an
Extraordinary Family Man

22. 22The Focus Magazine
Santa FeSenior Awards Banquet
Agnes and Robert Moses
Carol Johnson for
Charles Maxwell
Michael Hoyt
Christine Johnson
Virginia Miller
George Tate
On the left, Senior Honorees of Santa
Fe, New Mexico, prepare to dine
together doing the senior awards
recognition banquet held May 26,
2011. The event was sponsored
by the Office of African-American
Affairs.
The following pictures display Santa
Fe Mayor David Cross presenting
awards to the Senior Citizen
honorees.

23. 23 The Focus Magazine
Santa Fe
Jermaine LeDouix graduated
from Santa Fe high school with a 4.0
GPA. He was a member of the Royal
Blues and elected 2010 homecoming
king. Heplayedfootballandbasketball
for four years and participated in
track and field for three years. He
was voted athlete of the year in 2011,
and was the 2011 recipient of the
Martin Luther King Jr. Community
Service Award. As a volunteer he
served at Bienvenidos Outreach, St.
Joseph Soup Kitchen, Christa St.
Vincent Medical Center, as well at
the E-Waste drive for the United Way.
He has received scholarships from the
Kiwanis International Foundation,
New Mexico Credit Union Foundation
and the Los Alamos National Bank.
He has been accepted into the
undergraduate Combined BA/ M.D.
Program at the University of New
Mexico.
Santa Fe New Mexican.
June 5, 2011
The African American Museum and Cultural Center of New Mexico
(AAMCCNM) was formed onAugust 26, 2002. Their mission is to research,
collect, preserve, document, and interpret the history and culture ofAmericans
of African descent and Africans throughout the Diaspora, with particular
emphasis on New Mexico and the Southwest.
The museum has already established African-American historical
displays for the cities ofAlbuquerque and Las Cruces. The presentation that
was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico in May of this year, was an additional
step taken for the planned expansion of the museum to cover the state of
New Mexico.
Museum Board President Rita Powdrell, board members, Doris Jackson,
Sharon Lawson, and Ralph Mims were all present for Santa Fe’s planned
inclusion, and actively participated in the event.
This component of the museum is known as New Mexico’s African-
American Legacy: Visible, Vital, Valuable.
AAMCCNM
Board
members
are standing
beside the first
history display
panel for the
Santa Fe area.
On the left, visitors
are viewing some
of the museums
display panels
representing
African-American
history in cities
that have already
been established.
Pictured on the right is Clarence Fielder,
curator for the historic background of the
Las Cruces exhibit. Fielder was a special
guest speaker for the event in Santa Fe.
Young Man
Going Places
African American Museum and Cultural
Center Includes Santa Fe

24. 24The Focus Magazine
This year’s ( 2011/2012) scholarship winners from
the General Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton Chapter,
Tuskegee Airman Incorporated
Alexandra Torres Cadet Joan Ferguson Francisco Gonzales
Katrina Williams
Malaka El Nicholas White
Creating Future Scientists
Continued from page 9
Bria BroussardDaniel Washington Nikolaus Schexnayder Tatiana Cox

25. 25 The Focus Magazine
Violence and the Cost of Silence
Column Provided by
Anne R. Simpson, M.D.
UNM HSC Associate Vice President for
African American Health
Director- Center for Excellence on
African American Health
Janet Lynn Taylor – AmeriCorps
VISTA Coordinator
Article written by Amy Whitfield,
M.S.W.
African American Health Specialist
UNM HSC Center of Excellence for
African American Health
We hear more and more about
violence; particularly rape and child sexual
abuse. Sexual violence has moved out of
the too taboo to talk about area. Now we
hear it as common news stories and topics
on daytime talk shows. Additionally, in
this time of economic downturn we hear
about the cost of violence. The National
Institute of Justice estimates that rape costs
$127 billion a year due to loss of income,
health care costs, mental health services,
and property damage. There are numerous
health impacts of rape including sexually
transmitted diseases, anxiety, depression
or post- traumatic stress disorder.
More costly to survivors of violence,
is the silence that continues to surround
victims. We talk about it in national arenas,
but have we addressed it in the Black
community? Some studies have found
that up to 30% of Black women have
been raped and 44% of Blacks are
victims of child sexual abuse. These
victims are far less likely to report their
abuse to the police and/or disclose it to
others. The majority of sexual violence
is committed by someone close, a
friend, lover, or relative. Coupled
with other historical issues reporting
violence can be very difficult. Our
community’s history is full of stories
of police brutality, which has led
us to distrust authorities, including
police and health providers. And,
false reports of rape against Black
men and stereotypes of Black men
as perpetrators have led us to want to
protect the community from further
negative images. We’ve also seen
Black rape victims demonized in the
media with more concern over their
past sexual life then the violence that
happened to them. These contributors
encourage Blacks choosing to deal
with the violence outside of the public
realm.
Not only do Black victims choose
not to go to the authorities or seek
services, they are also surviving in
silence within the community. There
is still a great stigma around sexual
violence that makes individuals afraid
to come forward. Sex in general is
difficult for us to talk about. It is
easy for us to say, “Don’t do it”. But,
difficult for us to discuss how to give
consent or recognize someone saying
“no” non-verbally. We still believe
in the myths that encourage victim
blaming or do not hold perpetrators
responsible. Many of us are unsure
how to handle sexual violence. We
don’t know what to say or if we’ll say
the wrong thing. Often, we believe
ignoring it or not discussing it will be
the best path. This has great impact.
It encourages victims to stay silent and
says that we accept sexual violence.
We can begin with calling out the
small contributors to the acceptance of
sexual violence. Jokes that may seem
harmless, like, “she’s asking for it in
that dress” or “I wouldn’t be able to
help myself around someone that fine”
suggest that sexual violence can be
ok. Equating sexual harassment, like
grabbing someone, with flirting says
sexual violence is no big deal. And,
we can stop viewing sexual violence
as someone’s individual problem. It is
an issue for our community to openly
discuss and prevent.
Did you know?
From the Institute on
Domestic Violence in
the African American
Community
Statistics
• In a nationally representative
survey conducted in 1996, 29% of
African American women and 12%
of African American men reported at
least one instance of violence from an
intimate partner.
• African Americans account for
a disproportionate number of intimate
partner homicides. In 2005, African
Americans accounted for almost 1/3
of the intimate partner homicides in
this country.
• Black women comprise 8%
of the U.S. population but in 2005
accounted for 22% of the intimate
partner homicide victims and 29% of
all female victims of intimate partner
homicide.
• Intimate partner homicides
among African Americans have
declined sharply in the last 30 years.
Partner homicides involving a black
man or a black woman decreased from
a high of 1529 in 1976 to 475 in 2005,
for a total decline of 69%.
• Intimate partner deaths have
decreased most dramatically among
black men. From 1976-1985, black
men were more likely than black
women to be a victim of domestic
homicide; by 2005, black women were
2.4 times more likely than a black male
to murdered by their partners. Over
this period, intimate partner homicides
declined by 83% for black men vs. 55%
for black women.

26. 26The Focus Magazine
Mrs. Norine Patten Williams
100th Year Birthday Celebration
Highlights the Service of a Woman
of Leadership, Wisdom, Courage and
Compassion
By Victoria Steadman Crosby
Mrs. Norine Patten Williams, a
native of Batesville, Arkansas, came to
Albuquerque in 1947 at the invitation
of the late Rev. and Mrs. D.C. Coleman.
That was 64 years ago. Since that time,
Mrs. Patten Williams has served our
community in countless ways. Mrs.
Williams was married to the Rev. J.S.
Patten, the founder of the Shiloh Baptist
Church. She was the initial First Lady
of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for
nearly twenty years and later served as
First Lady of the Macedonia Missionary
Baptist Church.
After retiring from many years
of service as a devoted wife and the
First Lady, she provided home health
care for the late Rev. Hamilton (an
elder of Albuquerque’s Grants Chapel
AME Church, until his death). Later,
as a full-time employee of the City of
Albuquerque, Mrs. Patten would devote
her cheerful disposition and strong
organizational talents to the Thomas Bell
Community Center. There she worked
as of Senior Activities Director.
Today, celebrating 100 years of
living, she remains spiritually vibrant,
radiantly beautiful and mentally sharp as
a tack! From her early days as a pastor’s
wife to the present, Mrs. Patten Williams
has encouraged, counseled and inspired
scores of children, youth, young adults,
women and men of all ages in our city.
We know because we are among them!
Today as a community, we are
pleased to recognize Mrs. Norine
Patten Williams as both a pioneer and
a pillar of solid citizenship and godly
living. As such, we are honored to have
her in our midst for so long.
We are so tremendously honored to
be able to share with you this community
icon, Sis. Norine Patten Williams, whose
life symbolizes all that is important
in life: love for God, love of family,
love for community that expresses itself
in service, high ideals, and purposeful
living.
Sis. Norine Patten Williams, we
honor you for the life you have lived
and the love you have shown, which
has given each of us an example worth
emulating.
CELEBRATING SISTER NORINE: A Life of
Compassion Courage and Christ-likeness
Your community wishes to let
you know we love you with all of our
hearts, and it is our great pleasure to
acknowledge you and the life of service
you have lived. We thank God for you
and the blessing that you have been to
each one of us! May God continue to
bless and keep you, now and always.
through to make sure things are going
well. “It is our job to make sure that
she is okay, so there will be family
members visiting her at least three
times a day,” says Mary Hall, Mattie’s
granddaughter.
Mary went on to share these
thoughts about her grandmother. “She
is a very family oriented individual
and outside of her relationship with
God, family is her number one focus.
She blends the two together through
the church, making sure that each
of her family members is working
to be pleasing to God. She always
wants us to do the right things and
respect others. She’s a strong Christian
woman who has spent most of her life
in the service of God. “I Don’t Feel
No Ways Tired” is her signature song,
but “Never Grow Old” is a song people
always request that she sing.”
Mattie continues to live a life
that brightens the pathways of others.
There is never a dull moment when
you are in her presence. She is truly
a chosen vessel of God.
Continued from page 16
Mrs. Mattie Fields
The ageless Mrs. Norine Patten Williams sits in front of her
cake that is 99 candles short.

27. 27 The Focus Magazine
Melvin Hanks, Sr. is a longtime
civil rights activist in the State of New
Mexico. He is a native of Springfield,
Mo., but he has been an official New
Mexican transplant since 1948. During
the sixty-three year span of time that he
has been a citizen of New Mexico, he
has worn many hats and has made an
unbelievable mark on Albuquerque and
the State of New Mexico as a pioneer in
the fight for racial equality and justice.
He has played a tremendous role in
advancing the status of people of color
in New Mexico, especially on behalf
of Blacks. Hanks’ involvement in the
fight for civil rights dates back to the
beginning of the civil rights era. It is
because of his valor that many Blacks
were able to break through barriers of
segregation in New Mexico.
Hanks worked diligently as a
member of the N.A.A.C.P., the leading
civil rights group in the nation at the
time, to help create change in New
Mexico. He played a major role in
organizing meetings with Superintendent
John Milne, advocating for the hiring of
Colored Teachers in the Albuquerque
Public School System, later resulting
in the hiring of Mrs. Loretta Loftus and
Mrs.Ann Manning, two ofAlbuquerque’s
earliest Black teachers.
As a business owner and the C.E.O.
of Hanks Employment Agency, Hanks
was instrumental in helping to integrate
many of the downtown businesses in
Albuquerque. His entrepreneurial spirit
also led to his founding Hanks Marketing
and Sales Promotions, promoting the hair
products of Mrs. Crystal Crockett, and
was a pioneer Black disc jockey for the
radio station KDEF under the signature
name “DR. JIVE”.
Hanks held the State sub-cabinet
position as Director of the Department
of Motor Vehicles under Governor
David Cargo and was also responsible
for hosting the first statewide reception
for Black Ministers and Wives at the
Governor’s mansion in the State of New
Mexico.
Hanks became the first black
Deputy U.S. Marshal in the New Mexico
District, a position he served in for 23
years before retiring in May of 1991.
Hanks has provided a lifetime of
service for others in addition to the above
mentioned positions. He served as a chief
cook for St. Joseph’s Hospital where
he was tutored by the late Master Chef
Smaulding. He served as a letter carrier
for the U.S. Post Office in Albuquerque
and also served his country, rising to the
rank of Sergeant in the United States
Army at Fort Hood, Texas.
Throughout his stay as a resident of
the State of New Mexico, Hanks has been
a faithful member of the Grant Chapel
A.M.E. Church almost since moving
to the state of New Mexico in the late
1940s, when Grant Chapel was located
on CoalAvenue, until its current location
at 7920 ClaremontAve. N.E. Bro. Hanks
has served his church as the Pastor’s
Steward, Trustee, Usher, and also has
sung in the men’s choir, served as a
Sunday School teacher, and of course,
his favorite pastime, using his culinary
skills to serve as the cook for many of
the special events at the church.
Melvin Hanks is described as a man
willing to serve and willing to help just
about anybody. However, his wife of 31
years, LaVerne Hanks, describes him
best: “My husband is a gentle giant with
high standards of humanitarian qualities.
He has a great sense of fairness and
conceptual intuitiveness that epitomizes
a model for leadership. He has always
been the leader of our household and
he has always extended his hand to aid
others in need.” A fitting giant-sized
tribute to a great and gentle giant.
A ‘GENTLE GIANT,’ MELVIN V. HANKS, SR.
Melvin Hanks Sr. is a pioneer for civil rights
in New Mexico

28. 28The Focus Magazine
The 2011 state track and field competition brought to
light the color and beauty of competition at its best
from around our state.

29. 29 The Focus Magazine
And at the end of the day,
they discovered that through
it all they are their brother’s
keeper.
All day long they battled to be
the best in the state .
Athletes waited until it
was their time to make
their mark at this year’s
state track and field
competition.
They carried the
baton for their
team, for their
school, and for
their city.
Judging the day’s events we
need to ... let the stories be told.

30. 30The Focus Magazine
District: 24
County: Bernalillo
Representative Since: 2011
Occupation: Research Engineering
Address: 12020 Baja Drive NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Capitol Phone: (505) 986-4211
Office Phone:
Home Phone: (505) 453-2755
E-mail: conradjamesforhd24@gmail.com
State of New Mexico
African American Elected Public
Officials
Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton - (D)
District: 19
County: Bernalillo
Representative Since: 1995
Occupation: Educator
Address: Box 25385
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Capitol Phone: (505) 986-4774
Office Phone:
Home Phone: (505) 265-6089
E-mail: sheryl.stapleton@nmlegis.gov
Representative Jane E. Powdrell-Culbert - (R)
District: 44
County: Sandoval
Representative Since: 2003
Occupation: Training Consultant
Address: Box 2819
Corrales, NM 87048
Capitol Phone: (505) 986-4467
Office Phone: (505) 721-9021
Home Phone:
E-mail: jpandp@comcast.net
Hobbs City Commissioner
Crystal Hodge-Mullins
Commissioner, District 3.
575-318-3673
Representative Conrad James (R)
Office of The
Treasurer Of The
State Of New Mexico
-James B. Lewis, State Treasurer-
2055 South Pacheco Street
(Suite 100 & 200),
Santa Fe NM 87505-5135
Post Office Box 5135
Santa Fe NM 87505-5135
505-955-1120
505-955-1195 (fax)

31. 31 The Focus Magazine
State of New Mexico
African American
Judges
District Court Judge
2nd Judicial District -
Bernalillo County
Honorable Stanley Whitaker
District Court Judge
2nd Judicial District -
Bernalillo County
Honorable Valerie A. Huling
District Court Judge
2nd Judicial District -
Bernalillo County
Honorable Beatrice Brickhouse
Municipal Court Judge
Frederick Arnold Sr.
Portales, New Mexico
Magistrate Judge
Willie R. Henry
Lea County Division 2

32. Copyright © 2011
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Permit No. 1888
NM Office of African American Affairs
1015 Tijeras NW Suite 102
Albuquerque, NM 87102