This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Gale Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/4518/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Las Cruces Sun News 2 July 2010 NMSU educator dies at 84 Thomas M. Gale, a longtime New Mexico State University educator and administrator, was remembered Friday for his strong support of NMSU and extensive participation in civic and community endeavors in Las Cruces. Gale, 84, passed away Thursday. Funeral arrangements are pending, but there are tentative plans for services next week. He is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret Gale, and two sons, Thomas of El Paso, and John, who lives in Washington, D.C. Gale was named NMSU's first-ever emeritus professor in 2006 by the NMSU Board of Regents, after serving as dean of NMSU's College of Arts and Sciences from 1971 to 1991. Under his leadership the College of Arts and Sciences became the largest of the university's six colleges. Another first for Gale was his selection as interim provost at NMSU for eight months in 2001. "He loved it here (in Las Cruces), and he loved New Mexico State," said John Gale, of his father. "He was always glad to help. ... He did a lot of things. He loved being closer to the students." Before coming to NMSU he taught Latin American history, and was an assistant and then associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, Kan. Former NMSU President Gerald Thomas was able to convince Gale to come to NMSU as the dean of its College of Arts and Sciences. "I remember when he was offered the job as dean he told us he's like to take the job because he thought he could make a difference here," Gale said. "After we first got here, I also remember another story where he told us that someone asked him why do we (NMSU) need to have a music program." But Gale was always trying to find ways to improve educational opportunities for students. During his tenure as dean, NMSU participated in a program that helped academically low achieving high school students cope with their first year of college. Known in the 1970s as the College Opportunity Program for Enrichment, high school graduates with grades that wouldn't have been good enough to get them into college were able to take remedial courses while receiving tutoring and mentoring on college life skills. The program proved to be a big success, with a high rate of students enrolled in the program able to ultimately earn degrees. "He was the kind of person that inspired you to do well," regent Laura Conniff said. John Gale said what people saw and heard from his father were the same things he taught his sons. "He was the calmest and most supportive parent I've ever known," Gale said. "He was always ready with a piece of advice." He and his wife, Mary, established the Thomas M. Gale endowed fund for excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences. In 2009, the NMSU Foundation awarded Gale - who was a former board member - the Branding Iron award, the highest honor it bestows to individuals. The award recognizes significant and unique contributions to NMSU. Gale received his bachelor of arts - and Phi Beta Kappa distinction - and master of arts degrees in Latin American history from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1958, he earned his doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He conducted research in Peru and Spain as a Fulbright Scholar, and with a grant from the Social Science Research Council. He was also a Ford Foundation consultant on a number of Latin American projects. Gale also served as the first chair of the New Mexico Humanities Council, now known as the New Mexico Humanities Foundation, from 1972 to 1978, and later was awarded the endowment's Life Time Achievement Award. After his retirement in 1991, he became the chair of the 100-member Las Cruces 2000 Task Force, dedicated to the reform and support of public education in Las Cruces and affiliated with the national federal education program, Goals 2000: Educate America. He helped organize the Academy for Learning in Retirement and was the first chair of its board of directors from 1993 until 1996. He also served on the board of directors of the Dona Ana Arts Council (DAAC), and was chair of its Architectural Awards Committee. In 1993, Gale was appointed by the Gov. Bruce King to the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, and served as vice-chair from 1997 until his term ended in 1999. He was a member of three statewide roundtable discussions on education in New Mexico and a member of the Teacher Education Accountability Council, that monitored a large federal education grant to New Mexico. Gale also served as a member of the New Mexico Pilot Study Committee on Judicial Review in 1997. He served on the Border Book Festival board of directors and on the board of trustees of the Friends of the NMSU Art Gallery. In October 1998 he was given a leadership award by Toastmasters, District 23, and in June 1999 was awarded the Papen Family Arts Patron Award by the DAAC. He was appointed in 2000 to the New Mexico Commission on Public Broadcasting. "Even after retirement he set such a great example of participation," Conniff said. "He still attended all of the university's events, he went to everything." John Gale added, "He joked that after he retired he couldn't say no any more to being involved with New Mexico State and his community." In 2002 Gale was awarded the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award by Governor Johnson. He served as co-chair of the Las Cruces Public Schools Blue Ribbon Bond Committee for 2006, and also served as a member of the LCPS Foundation. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.