Each year, the New Mexico Mining Association gives two awards at the Association’s Annual Legislative Reception and Dinner: the Altamirano Award and the Watts Award for Professionalism. Additionally, each year, a new inductee is added to the NMMA Hall of Fame.

Senator Ben D. Altamirano was elected as a senator in the New Mexico legislature in 1971 and served in this capacity for more than three decades. During his tenure, he held key leadership positions, including State Senate President Pro Tempore, and served on numerous legislative committees. His service to the State of New Mexico was exceptional, and his dedication to issues important to New Mexico’s mining industry was constant.

In 2005, the New Mexico Mining Association established the Senator Ben D. Altamirano Award for Legislative Excellence in honor of Senator Altamirano and his commitment to public service and the mining industry. The award is to be given each year at the Association’s Annual Legislative Reception and Dinner to an outstanding elected official who has made significant contributions to New Mexico and its mining industry. Because this award is intended for outstanding public service and dedication to the mining industry over an extended period, this award is given to a qualified elected official only once during their lifetime.

The first award was first given in 2006 to its namesake, Senator Ben D. Altamirano.

AWARDEES

H.J. “Doc” Weiler/Marvin Watts were two of the most popular and respected lobbyists ever to walk the halls of the State Capitol. They used their exemplary knowledge of the governmental process to become two of the strongest advocates for New Mexico’s mining industry. Their dedication to mining extended beyond the interests of their clients and benefited the New Mexico Mining Association and industry as a whole. The thing that Doc and Marvin were best known for was professionalism.

In 2005, the New Mexico Mining Association established the Doc Weiler/Marvin Watts Award for Professionalism in honor of these two fine gentlemen. The award is to be given each year at the Association’s Annual Legislative Reception and Dinner to any individual member of the NMMA, governmental employee or lobbyist who has developed a strong and widely respected reputation as an advocate for New Mexico’s mining industry. The recipient must have demonstrated a commitment to issues important to New Mexico’s mining industry over an extended period of time.

The first award was first given in 2006, with Joe Menapace as its inaugural recipient.

AWARDEES

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AWARDEES