Date:
11/20/2008
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253
PORTALES—Alva C. Carter, president of the Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents, was killed in an a traffic accident early this morning on New Mexico Highway 202 between Portales and Muleshoe, Texas. Roosevelt County Sheriff Darren Hooker said state police are handling the investigation.
Services will be held Monday afternoon (tentatively set for 2 p.m.) in ENMU’s Greyhound Arena on the Portales campus.
Carter was appointed as an ENMU regent in 2003.
Steven Gamble, ENMU president, said, “The Eastern New Mexico University community is saddened to learn of the sudden death of Mr. Alva Carter, president of the ENMU Board of Regents. Mr. Carter’s commitment to the University and his strong support of this community was well-known and he will be sorely missed. Our sympathy goes out to his wife, Mary Helen, and his entire family.
Carter, a native of San Jon, N.M., earned a bachelor of science degree from West Texas State University in 1962 and a master of business administration from Eastern New Mexico University in 1970. He retired as assistant principal of Portales High School in 1985.
Since then he has been active in agriculture at both local and national levels. A past president of the New Mexico Peanut Growers, he served on the National Peanut Board. He was presently on the national corporate board of Dairy Farmers of America, as well several other local and national dairy boards.
He was the owner of Big Valley in Portales, Carter's Milk Factory and AC Farms.
He lived in Portales with his wife, Mary Helen.