Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
PORTALES — Gov. Susana Martinez kept the late Susan Tatum in mind when picking her replacement for Eastern New Mexico University’s board of regents.
In the end, Martinez appointed her widower, Ed Tatum of Clovis, for the remainder of the term. The university announced the appointment Wednesday.
Tatum, a founding member of Clovis’ Tatum and McDowell law firm, will assume the seat left vacant since his wife died in February.
“I am very excited and honored to assume the position of my late wife, who did wonderfully,” said Tatum. “I’m looking forward to working with the new administration at Eastern and continuing to make ENMU the best university in New Mexico and the surrounding states.”
Tatum, reached at his law office Wednesday, said he was honored to have the governor’s confidence and excited to join the board at a time transition for the school.
New ENMU President J.S. Elwell said Tatum’s first meeting with the board will be Sept. 14.
“I am very glad to see that Ed Tatum has been appointed,” Elwell said in a school release. “I had the opportunity to visit with him during the ENMU Foundation summer barbeque. I think he’ll do a great job and I look forward to working with him.”
Tatum served as the vice president and director of the Curry County United Way from 1972 to 1978 and president and director of the Curry County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development in 1982. He was a member of the New Mexico Corrections Commission from 1977 to 1980.
He was active duty in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972 and an attorney member of the Judge Advocate General Corps for the United States Air Force Reserve from 1972 to 2001.
“He has been a supporter of the university for a number of years and it is entirely appropriate that he be selected to fill the remaining years of his wife's term,” Board President Dan Patterson said. “I cannot think of a more welcome and appropriate appointment. I look forward, as I am sure does the rest of the board, to working with Mr. Tatum.”
