Mesalands president resigning

Freedom New Mexico

Mesalands Community College President Phillip O. Barry is calling it quits in a year.

Barry told the college board Tuesday that he plans to retire effective the fall 2011 school year.

Attempts to reach Barry and board Chairman J. Bronson Moore for comment Wednesday were not successful.

Richard Primrose, Quay County manager, said Barry made substantial contributions to Mesalands and the community the 15 years he served as college president.

“I told Dr. Barry how much I appreciated all of the work that he’s done for Quay County and this area. I think he’s done an excellent job for this community and the county, so he’ll be really missed,” Primrose said. “(Mesalands) used to be a vocational school and now it’s a community college. Of course, bringing the North American Wind Research Center to Tucumcari has been a huge accomplishment.”

Barry’s announcement comes in the wake of a drunken driving arrest. He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Oct. 16 by Albuquerque police, who said he failed three sobriety tests.

Barry’s trial is scheduled for Sept. 2.

The college board announced they planned to find a replacement for Barry by July 1, 2011.