[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF SAMUEL STEEL

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                             HON. JOE SKEEN

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 1998

  Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Samuel Steel, 
the first graduate of New Mexico Agricultural College, now known as New 
Mexico State University, who will be receiving his honorary degree 
during tomorrow's pregraduation ceremonies in Las Cruces, New Mexico at 
the university.
  Samuel Steel was completing his last semester toward his Bachelor of 
Science Degree at New Mexico Agricultural College when he was shot on 
March 9, 1893. He would have been the first graduate of a New Mexico 
Territory institution of higher learning had he not been killed at the 
age of 17.
  Steel entered New Mexico Agricultural College at the age of 13. 
Accounts of his abilities indicated a young man of genius or near-
genius aptitude. he entered his senior year in the fall of 1892 as the 
only member of his class. He was a member of the Columbian Literary 
Society, which created the New Mexican Collegian, the first college 
newspaper in the territory.
  President Hiram Hadley said of Steel: ``It is rather more than 40 
years since I consecrated my life to the work of education. In that 
period I have had under my care many brilliant youths, a large number 
of whom now fill exalted positions in their chosen callings; but taken 
in all, I have never known the superior, if the equal of Samuel Steel. 
Personally, I loved him with a paternal affection, and had planned for 
him labor in which he was sure to distinguish himself.''
  In the 100th anniversary year of his death, the Sam Steel Society was 
formed to carry on the scholarly tradition of Steel by inducting new 
graduates and honored individuals into the Society. Two years later, 
the frontage road on I-10 along the southern edge of the campus was 
named Sam Steel Way.
  On May 15, 1998, 105 years after he would have been the territory's 
first graduate of a New Mexico college, an honorary bachelor of science 
degree in general agriculture is being awarded to the late Samuel 
Steel. On hand to accept the degree will be three nephews--Captain 
Gordon Steel of the United States Air Force, Ric Steel of El Paso, and 
namesake Dr. Samuel Steel of San Francisco.
  The diploma reads: ``Be it known that for his outstanding scholarship 
as the first member of a senior class in a college in the New Mexico 
Territory, which set a standard of excellence for those who followed as 
students at New Mexico State University, the Regents hereby confer 
posthumously upon Samuel Steel the honorary degree of bachelor of 
science in general agriculture with all the honors and distinctions 
appertaining hereto.''




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