SOCORRO, N.M. – Former state Rep. Henry "Kiki" Saavedra of Albuquerque, a longtime supporter of New Mexico Tech, passed away Sunday, Jan. 27.

New Mexico Tech President Dr. Stephen Wells expressed his sadness about Mr. Saavedra’s passing.

"The state of New Mexico has lost a great friend, and so has New Mexico Tech. For decades, Representative Henry "Kiki" Saavedra was a champion of higher education, and his impact will be felt for decades to come. On behalf of the New Mexico Tech community, I offer my sincere condolences to the Saavedra family and to all whose lives have been touched by a great New Mexican."

Saavedra retired five years ago from the New Mexico House of Representatives after serving from 1977 to 2014.  He was the second-longest serving member of the chamber when he retired from public service. He served many years as the chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and played a central role in crafting the state’s annual budget.

– NMT –