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Workers for C&C Demolition Services use an excavator to tear down Lions Hall at The University of New Mexico-��˿������Ƶ on Friday, June 14, 2024.

��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ bids farewell to Lions Hall, but legacy lives on

Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

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Building donated by Lions Club in 1969 was instrumental to establishing branch campus site

By Richard Reyes, Monday, July 15, 2024

GALLUP, N.M. — The University of New Mexico-��˿������Ƶ completed the demolition of Lions Hall on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, but the legacy of the branch campus’ first official building will live on.

Lions Hall, which was donated to ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ by the local Lions Club in 1969, was instrumental in establishing the current site of the branch campus. It was torn down because of contaminants that needed to be abated and, unfortunately, it was no longer feasible to renovate the building.

“��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ will be forever grateful to the ��˿������Ƶ Lion’s Club,” Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell said. “The generous donation of their clubhouse back in 1969 led to ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ becoming the successful community college that it is today.”

The ��˿������Ƶ Lions Club donated their clubhouse and 6 acres of piñon-wooded hills to ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ on Aug. 7, 1969, as part of a community service project. Lions Hall was the first official building of the branch campus at its current site.

Named Lions Hall, the building was remodeled to include administrative offices and classrooms.

Later in 1969, Clair Gurley donated an adjacent parcel of 70 acres to the college, which allowed the campus to grow and expand into what it has become today.

Prior to the Lions Hall donation, the first ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ classes were held at the old ��˿������Ƶ High School building where the branch originally served 128 students.

��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ now serves approximately 2,900 students online and in-person with a campus that includes 10 buildings on more than 80 acres.