FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community involvement and public service were central to Juan Delgado, and the City of Gallup is honoring the longtime Gallupian by dedicating the Northside Senior Center Dining Hall in his honor.
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday at the Senior Center, 607 N. 4th St. Light refreshments and cake will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Mayor Pro Tem Linda Garcia has spearheaded the project to honor Delgado and will lead the dedication.
“We are grateful and honored to be able to name this dining hall after Juan Delgado, who contributed to Gallup in so many ways,” Garcia said. “Mr. Delgado was an amazing, dedicated man and his impact on the community is beyond measure.”
Delgado retired from the City in 1990 after three decades of service. He served in several roles, including running the Parks and Recreation Department and the Senior Citizen Program. His passion for enriching the lives of seniors led him to take groups of seniors on trips around the country and world. He also formed a group of seniors called the Troubadours who would perform songs and Christmas carols in English, Navajo and Spanish.
Delgado’s service to the City and love of athletics also saw his involvement with the modernization and building of several new parks, including the Sports Complex. He also served for 50 years as a baseball and football referee across the region.
He was born in Winslow, Az. In 1931. After graduating from Gallup High School, he joined the U.S. Army in 1959. He went on to live in Los Angeles for six years before returning home to Gallup. He passed away on August 15, 2023. He is survived by six children and a large extended family.
City staff are working with a local artist to create a permanent dedication to honor Delgado. This will be unveiled at a later date, along with a plaque in his honor and a perpetual plaque to honor other Senior Center volunteers.
Contact: J.M. DeYoung, Interim City Manager
Office: (505) 863-1221
manager@gallupnm.gov
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