Mondragon receives award for service

Raymond Mondragón of Clovis has received the Bronze Award from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, according to a news release from the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

Mondragón is chairman of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership and director of area economic development for ENMR-Plateau.

“In January 2002, I called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years—or 4,000 hours—over the course of their lives to serve others home and abroad,” President Bush wrote in his letter to Mondragón, the release reads. “I congratulate you and all the Americans who have answered this call.”

Mondragón was nominated for the award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in Clovis.

“His leadership abilities are the reason we nominated him,” said member John Montano. “He just takes the ball and runs with it and is a great overall guy.”

Mondragón was appointed by Gov. Bill Richardson as chairman of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership in January. During his career, Mondragón was Clovis city manager and Clovis police chief. He also served as president of the United Way of Eastern New Mexico and the Clovis Community College Foundation Board. He is a member of the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and chairman of the Clovis Centennial Committee. He is a graduate of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and FBI National Academy.

“I work with a lot of good people in Clovis and in New Mexico — people who are more deserving of this award than I am,” Mondragón said in the release. “But I am happy to accept the award in this manner.”

“President Bush’s award to our Chairman of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership shows that we have the right individual at the helm,” said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Fred Mondragón, who is no relation to Ray Mondragón.

The New Mexico Partnership is a public-private non-profit organization created in 2004, and tasked with generating economic growth via attracting businesses to the state of New Mexico.