[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 21 (Friday, February 2, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E125-E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING STATE REPRESENTATIVE NICK L. SALAZAR

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 2, 2018

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to honor State Representative Nick L. Salazar who is retiring at the 
end of the 2018 legislative session after 46 years of outstanding and 
selfless service to New Mexico.
  Representative Salazar was born on April 18, 1924 in Chamita, New 
Mexico. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United 
States Air Force where he attained the rank of sergeant. Representative 
Salazar attended the University of New Mexico and the University of 
California-Santa Barbara. He and his wife, Mari Ana Abeyta, have three 
wonderful children, Yvonne, Earl, and Gregory, as well as three 
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
  Representative Salazar started his long and storied political career 
as a commissioner for Rio Arriba County. In June 1967 while 
commissioner, he was held hostage by Reies Lopez Tijerina in the 
infamous courthouse raid in Tierra Amarilla. Representative Salazar 
also worked at Los Alamos national laboratory as a fusion and 
thermonuclear researcher where he continues to serve as a member of the 
lab's board.
  In 1972, Representative Salazar was first elected to New Mexico House 
of Representatives for District 40 where he has served diligently and 
with distinction ever since. Throughout his career, Representative 
Salazar has proven a staunch advocate for Native American issues and 
constantly traveled throughout the State to visit tribal communities. 
Additionally, Representative Salazar championed senior issues 
throughout his career. For years, he has set aside funds in the annual 
budget to increase support services for New Mexican seniors. 
Representative Salazar

[[Page E126]]

has also been one of the strongest advocates to increase funding for 
New Mexico's colleges and universities, especially for Northern New 
Mexico College.
  Mr. Speaker, the New Mexico House of Representatives will not be the 
same without Representative Salazar who has been a fixture and an 
institution for over 4 decades. He is the longest-serving legislator in 
New Mexico's history and one of the ten longest-serving members of any 
legislature throughout the country. It amazes me to think about just 
how many lives Representative Salazar touched and improved throughout 
his decades of public service, and I am certain that his numerous 
accomplishments will be felt for generations to come. Representative 
Salazar's service to our state is unmatched, his integrity is second to 
none, and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues, constituents, and 
friends.

                          ____________________