Former Senator Carroll Leavell Honored by Senate

By the New Mexico Senate Republican Office 

Santa Fe—Former New Mexico State Senator Carroll Leavell of Jal was honored in the Senate Chambers today.  All of Senator Leavell’s former colleagues gave him a heartfelt tribute about his outstanding public service to the state. Many of the Senators choked up with emotion and had tears in their eyes as they spoke of many touching stories about Senator Leavell and his wife Bobbie Leavell.  Many of them spoke about how Senator Leavell is so gracious to them, how he is so genial and how hard he worked to improve the state.  They spoke about the sparkle in his eye and his easygoing nature and cheerful smile.   Many said he is a true gentleman and statesman.

 

Senate Floor Minority Leader Stuart Ingle (R-Portales) sponsored Senate Memorial 40 which passed the Senate unanimously. It read in part: “Whereas, Senator Leavell had an illustrious career in the Senate and was best known as a member of the powerful senate finance committee, on which he served from 2003 to 2018. Senator Leavell’s civic involvement has always been important to Senator Leavell.  In 2007, the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center named Senator Leavell as a Silver Concho Honoree for his service to the country.” (Entire Memorial 40 is attached below.)

“We are talking about a member of the Senate who has been a great friend of the state for many years. I am so glad Senator Leavell is able to be with us today to  hear all we have to say about how grateful we are to have served with him,” Senator Ingle said. “We want to thank Bobbie and the rest of Senator Leavell’s family for sharing him with all of us. The state of New Mexico is a better place to live and work because of Senator Carroll  Leavell. He is a great, great man.”

 

Senator Leavell’s wife Bobbie Leavell and daughters Kim Fulfer and Teri Poe sat beside Senator Leavell in the Senate Chambers. They sat behind Senator Gregg Fulfer (R-Jal) who is Senator Leavell’s son-in-law and who was appointed by the former governor to fill Senator Leavell’s District 41 seat.

 

Senator Carroll Leavell retired after serving in the State Senate since 1997.  He represented District 41 which includes Eddy and Lea County for over 22 years. His colleagues said  Senator Leavell had been a dedicated champion for his constituents and a passionate supporter of large and small businesses in New Mexico and the jobs they produced in the state.  He is known as being a stanch supporter of the oil and gas industry that is important to Southeastern New Mexico as well to the entire state.