NAME ROSWELL BYPASS FOR NANCY LOPEZ

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A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONSIDER
NAMING THE ROSWELL BYPASS IN HONOR OF NANCY LOPEZ.
WHEREAS, Nancy Lopez is an internationally renowned
professional golfer and one of the city of Roswell's most
distinguished natives; and
WHEREAS, Nancy Lopez was born in Torrance, California,
in 1957 and grew up in the city of Roswell, where she learned
to golf on local courses and graduated from Goddard high
school; and
WHEREAS, in 1969, at the age of twelve, Nancy Lopez won
the first of three consecutive New Mexico women's amateur
titles and went on to win three consecutive United States
girls' junior/western women's titles in 1972, 1973 and 1974;
and
WHEREAS, in 1974 and 1975, Nancy Lopez competed as an
amateur in the United States women's open; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, as a freshman at the university of
Tulsa, Nancy Lopez won the association for intercollegiate
athletics for women national intercollegiate golf
championship and was a member of the United States Curtis cup
and world amateur teams; and
WHEREAS, in 1977, Nancy Lopez joined the ladies
professional golf association; and
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WHEREAS, in 1978, during her first full season on the
ladies professional golf association tour, Nancy Lopez won
nine tournaments, including five consecutive tournaments, was
named rookie of the year, player of the year and the
associated press female athlete of the year and appeared on
the cover of the July 1978 issue of Sports Illustrated; and
WHEREAS, Nancy Lopez went on to dominate the sport and
become one of the most iconic figures in women's professional
golf, winning forty-eight ladies professional golf
association tournaments and being named player of the year
three more times in 1979, 1985 and 1988; and
WHEREAS, Nancy Lopez was inducted into the world golf
hall of fame in 1987, the ladies professional golf
association hall of fame in 1989 and the New Mexico sports
hall of fame in 2000; and
WHEREAS, throughout her career, Nancy Lopez proudly
represented the city of Roswell on a global stage, crediting
her hometown roots for her success; and
WHEREAS, naming the United States highway 285 bypass,
also known as the Roswell bypass, in her honor will recognize
Nancy Lopez for her exceptional career, her contributions to
women's sports and her enduring connection to the city of
Roswell and will inspire future generations to achieve
excellence;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE
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STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of transportation be
requested to consider naming the United States highway 285
bypass in honor of Nancy Lopez; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
transmitted to the secretary of transportation.