ENMU broadcast facility named for Duane Ryan

ENMU broadcast facility named for Duane Ryan

By Grant McGee

The Staff of The News

[email protected]

Eastern New Mexico University’s Board of Regents on Friday voted unanimously to rename the university’s broadcast center to honor the former director of broadcasting at KENW-TV and radio, Duane Ryan.

The vote came after an executive session discussing the action.

According to a Monday ENMU news release, the dedication of the Duane W. Ryan Broadcast Center will be Oct. 26 during a KENW 50th anniversary celebration from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the ENMU campus.

“I am pleased that the Board of Regents approved this naming. It is an important recognition of a man who dedicated a significant portion of his life to public broadcasting and ENMU,” ENMU Chancellor James Johnston said.

According to the news release, Ryan was a champion of public broadcasting and a member of the Eastern New Mexico University community since 1967. He died April 6, 2023.

Ryan spent 55 years as the director of broadcasting at ENMU. He came to Eastern in 1967 as an assistant professor.

According to the news release, it was Ryan’s dream to bring PBS and NPR to Eastern New Mexico and West Texas “to enrich the lives of citizens of this area.”

Ryan helped to launch KENW public radio in 1968 and then started KENW-TV in 1974.

Ryan was elected to the New Mexico Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2015.

In other action at Friday’s regular meeting:

• Chancellor Johnston reported to regents that undergraduate enrollment is 5,740 students, an increase of 6.1% from last year.

The number of graduate students at ENMU is the highest number in the university’s history, 1,488, up 12.2% from last year.

• Regents approved improvements at the ENMU-Roswell campus: A fire suppression/sprinkler system and improvements to campus walkways and parking lot.

• Johnston secured an endorsement of General Obligation Bond 3 on the Nov. 5 ballot through a unanimous vote by regents.

The measure is for funding for the state’s five universities including ENMU.

• ENMU’s new Athletic Director Kevin Fite was introduced to regents. He was hired in May.