University Library News Release
Date: November 16, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeanette Smith, NMSU Library, (505) 646-7492, jcsmith@lib.nmsu.edu
Apodaca Endowment to Preserve Area’s Family Histories
The New Mexico State University Library announces the creation of the Reymundo and Elisa Apodaca Endowed Fund for Family Collections in the Rio Grande Historical Collections. The endowment, established by Rudy S. Apodaca and Nancy Apodaca of Las Cruces, will support the preservation, processing and promotion of family history collections held by the Library.
Library Dean Elizabeth A. Titus said, “We thank the Apodaca Family for helping to preserve the legacy of families that have played an important role in the history and culture of southern New Mexico.”
Rudy Apodaca’s parents, Reymundo and Elisa Apodaca, lived their entire lives in Las Cruces. They were an important part of eight generations of a family that played a role in this area’s history. Longterm residents of Las Cruces will remember them as the owners of the original Dairy Queen in Las Cruces that provided first jobs for many youngsters.
Reymundo was a popular employee at the original J C Penney store on Main Street, and he and Elisa were asked to lead hundreds of marches at weddings, quinceañeras and other social events in the Las Cruces Mexican-American community. Reymundo passed away in 1998, and Elisa in 2002.
A trial lawyer in Las Cruces for twenty-two years, Rudy also spent thirteen years as a judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Since his retirement from the court, he has divided his time between mediation and arbitration work and writing. His novel Pursuit was published in 2003. The NMSU Library holds the Rudy S. Apodaca Papers, 1957-2003.
Among Rudy’s siblings are Raymond, a former bank president, and Jerry, a legislator and former governor of New Mexico.
“Families are the core of society,” said Rudy. “How can a complete study of our history take place without considering the families that were very much a part of what has taken place in our region?”
Rudy Apodaca credits family life with forming and building the traits that determine what roles members of a family will play in the larger society. He believes strongly in the importance of accurate chronicling of the past in order to ensure historical authenticity for future researchers.
For more information on helping preserve our area’s family histories through contributing to the Reymundo and Elisa Apodaca Endowed Fund for Family Collections in the Rio Grande Historical Collections, please contact Connie Loyd at the NMSU Library at (505) 646-3642 or email clouloyd@lib.nmsu.edu.
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