SPENCER WYATT ATKINS August 16, 1923 – January 17, 2017
Former Alamogordo judge, Otero County Commissioner, State Senator, businessman, and banker, Spencer “Wyatt” Atkins, passed away Tuesday. He was 93 years old.
Wyatt Atkins was born and raised in Arcadia, Louisiana. He was the oldest of three sons of Spencer Atkins and Daisy Marshall Atkins.
In the 1940s, after completing two years of college, Wyatt was sent to Alamogordo by the Community Service Power Co. to help build an electric generator plant to generate power for Alamogordo. Wyatt did not intend to stay, but they convinced him to stay to run the plant for them.
In the 1950s, Wyatt became very active in the Democratic Party and was elected county chairman for about 15 years. Wyatt and his wife, Donetta were state delegates to the Chicago Democratic National Convention in 1956.
In the 1960s Wyatt was also elected the police judge, which is now the Alamogordo Municipal Court judge. He was the owner and partner in Atkins & Reeves Motor Co., an automobile dealership that sold Edsels, Studebakers and Dodges through the years. After 14 years of being the police judge, he was elected and served two terms on the Otero County Commission. Wyatt served as chairman of the commission with Commissioners G.L. Tucker and Billy Gage.
In 1979, he was appointed to the New Mexico State Senate seat to represent Otero County after Aubrey Dunn resigned. Wyatt served in the state Senate for 5 years after being re-elected. He served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he was also vice-chair of Senate Education Committee.
Wyatt joined First National Bank Alamogordo in 1966 as a director on the bank’s board and served in that capacity up and until his passing. At one time, he was the chairman of the bank board. He loved banking. He loved economics and he felt the employees of First National Bank were his family.
He was a Master Mason at Sacramento Lodge and a member of the Scotish Rite. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He was a charter member of the Elks Lodge No. 1897.
In 2015, Michael Shinabery included Wyatt Atkins in his book, “Legendary Locals of Alamogordo”. “Ted Kennedy once came to Alamogordo, and Atkins personally escorted him around the community. In 1963, when Pres. John Kennedy visited…White Sands Missile Range, Atkins secreted Kennedy’s limosine in his business garage. “
First National Bank President and CEO, Steve Muell, said he had known Wyatt for about 6 years. “We called him Mr. Atkins to the fact that he was such a gentleman,” Muell said. “He was so knowledgeable of the community. He cared not just for his family, but for the bank, for the community and state. He brought such insight to our board and leadership. After 51 years, the guidance that he provided to the board and management is just invaluable. It is going to be difficult to fill that role going forward as our elder statesman.”
Wyatt is survived by his wife Donetta Atkins; his son Bert, and his wife Eve; and three granddaughters, Mardelle R. Atkins, and her husband, Will Blackstone, Erinna M. Atkins, and Alissandra M. Atkins.
Former Alamogordo judge, Otero County Commissioner, State Senator, businessman, and banker, Spencer “Wyatt” Atkins, passed away Tuesday. He was 93 years old.
Wyatt Atkins was born and raised in Arcadia, Louisiana. He was the oldest of three sons of Spencer Atkins and Daisy Marshall Atkins.
In the 1940s, after completing two years of college, Wyatt was sent to Alamogordo by the Community Service Power Co. to help build an electric generator plant to generate power for Alamogordo. Wyatt did not intend to stay, but they convinced him to stay to run the plant for them.
In the 1950s, Wyatt became very active in the Democratic Party and was elected county chairman for about 15 years. Wyatt and his wife, Donetta were state delegates to the Chicago Democratic National Convention in 1956.
In the 1960s Wyatt was also elected the police judge, which is now the Alamogordo Municipal Court judge. He was the owner and partner in Atkins & Reeves Motor Co., an automobile dealership that sold Edsels, Studebakers and Dodges through the years. After 14 years of being the police judge, he was elected and served two terms on the Otero County Commission. Wyatt served as chairman of the commission with Commissioners G.L. Tucker and Billy Gage.
In 1979, he was appointed to the New Mexico State Senate seat to represent Otero County after Aubrey Dunn resigned. Wyatt served in the state Senate for 5 years after being re-elected. He served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he was also vice-chair of Senate Education Committee.
Wyatt joined First National Bank Alamogordo in 1966 as a director on the bank’s board and served in that capacity up and until his passing. At one time, he was the chairman of the bank board. He loved banking. He loved economics and he felt the employees of First National Bank were his family.
He was a Master Mason at Sacramento Lodge and a member of the Scotish Rite. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He was a charter member of the Elks Lodge No. 1897.
In 2015, Michael Shinabery included Wyatt Atkins in his book, “Legendary Locals of Alamogordo”. “Ted Kennedy once came to Alamogordo, and Atkins personally escorted him around the community. In 1963, when Pres. John Kennedy visited…White Sands Missile Range, Atkins secreted Kennedy’s limosine in his business garage. “
First National Bank President and CEO, Steve Muell, said he had known Wyatt for about 6 years. “We called him Mr. Atkins to the fact that he was such a gentleman,” Muell said. “He was so knowledgeable of the community. He cared not just for his family, but for the bank, for the community and state. He brought such insight to our board and leadership. After 51 years, the guidance that he provided to the board and management is just invaluable. It is going to be difficult to fill that role going forward as our elder statesman.”
Wyatt is survived by his wife Donetta Atkins; his son Bert, and his wife Eve; and three granddaughters, Mardelle R. Atkins, and her husband, Will Blackstone, Erinna M. Atkins, and Alissandra M. Atkins.
SPENCER WYATT ATKINS August 16, 1923 – January 17, 2017
Former Alamogordo judge, Otero County Commissioner, State Senator, businessman, and banker, Spencer “Wyatt” Atkins, passed away Tuesday. He was 93 years old.
Wyatt Atkins was born and raised in Arcadia, Louisiana. He was the oldest of three sons of Spencer Atkins and Daisy Marshall Atkins.
In the 1940s, after completing two years of college, Wyatt was sent to Alamogordo by the Community Service Power Co. to help build an electric generator plant to generate power for Alamogordo. Wyatt did not intend to stay, but they convinced him to stay to run the plant for them.
In the 1950s, Wyatt became very active in the Democratic Party and was elected county chairman for about 15 years. Wyatt and his wife, Donetta were state delegates to the Chicago Democratic National Convention in 1956.
In the 1960s Wyatt was also elected the police judge, which is now the Alamogordo Municipal Court judge. He was the owner and partner in Atkins & Reeves Motor Co., an automobile dealership that sold Edsels, Studebakers and Dodges through the years. After 14 years of being the police judge, he was elected and served two terms on the Otero County Commission. Wyatt served as chairman of the commission with Commissioners G.L. Tucker and Billy Gage.
In 1979, he was appointed to the New Mexico State Senate seat to represent Otero County after Aubrey Dunn resigned. Wyatt served in the state Senate for 5 years after being re-elected. He served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he was also vice-chair of Senate Education Committee.
Wyatt joined First National Bank Alamogordo in 1966 as a director on the bank’s board and served in that capacity up and until his passing. At one time, he was the chairman of the bank board. He loved banking. He loved economics and he felt the employees of First National Bank were his family.
He was a Master Mason at Sacramento Lodge and a member of the Scotish Rite. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He was a charter member of the Elks Lodge No. 1897.
In 2015, Michael Shinabery included Wyatt Atkins in his book, “Legendary Locals of Alamogordo”. “Ted Kennedy once came to Alamogordo, and Atkins personally escorted him around the community. In 1963, when Pres. John Kennedy visited…White Sands Missile Range, Atkins secreted Kennedy’s limosine in his business garage. “
First National Bank President and CEO, Steve Muell, said he had known Wyatt for about 6 years. “We called him Mr. Atkins to the fact that he was such a gentleman,” Muell said. “He was so knowledgeable of the community. He cared not just for his family, but for the bank, for the community and state. He brought such insight to our board and leadership. After 51 years, the guidance that he provided to the board and management is just invaluable. It is going to be difficult to fill that role going forward as our elder statesman.”
Wyatt is survived by his wife Donetta Atkins; his son Bert, and his wife Eve; and three granddaughters, Mardelle R. Atkins, and her husband, Will Blackstone, Erinna M. Atkins, and Alissandra M. Atkins.
Former Alamogordo judge, Otero County Commissioner, State Senator, businessman, and banker, Spencer “Wyatt” Atkins, passed away Tuesday. He was 93 years old.
Wyatt Atkins was born and raised in Arcadia, Louisiana. He was the oldest of three sons of Spencer Atkins and Daisy Marshall Atkins.
In the 1940s, after completing two years of college, Wyatt was sent to Alamogordo by the Community Service Power Co. to help build an electric generator plant to generate power for Alamogordo. Wyatt did not intend to stay, but they convinced him to stay to run the plant for them.
In the 1950s, Wyatt became very active in the Democratic Party and was elected county chairman for about 15 years. Wyatt and his wife, Donetta were state delegates to the Chicago Democratic National Convention in 1956.
In the 1960s Wyatt was also elected the police judge, which is now the Alamogordo Municipal Court judge. He was the owner and partner in Atkins & Reeves Motor Co., an automobile dealership that sold Edsels, Studebakers and Dodges through the years. After 14 years of being the police judge, he was elected and served two terms on the Otero County Commission. Wyatt served as chairman of the commission with Commissioners G.L. Tucker and Billy Gage.
In 1979, he was appointed to the New Mexico State Senate seat to represent Otero County after Aubrey Dunn resigned. Wyatt served in the state Senate for 5 years after being re-elected. He served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he was also vice-chair of Senate Education Committee.
Wyatt joined First National Bank Alamogordo in 1966 as a director on the bank’s board and served in that capacity up and until his passing. At one time, he was the chairman of the bank board. He loved banking. He loved economics and he felt the employees of First National Bank were his family.
He was a Master Mason at Sacramento Lodge and a member of the Scotish Rite. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He was a charter member of the Elks Lodge No. 1897.
In 2015, Michael Shinabery included Wyatt Atkins in his book, “Legendary Locals of Alamogordo”. “Ted Kennedy once came to Alamogordo, and Atkins personally escorted him around the community. In 1963, when Pres. John Kennedy visited…White Sands Missile Range, Atkins secreted Kennedy’s limosine in his business garage. “
First National Bank President and CEO, Steve Muell, said he had known Wyatt for about 6 years. “We called him Mr. Atkins to the fact that he was such a gentleman,” Muell said. “He was so knowledgeable of the community. He cared not just for his family, but for the bank, for the community and state. He brought such insight to our board and leadership. After 51 years, the guidance that he provided to the board and management is just invaluable. It is going to be difficult to fill that role going forward as our elder statesman.”
Wyatt is survived by his wife Donetta Atkins; his son Bert, and his wife Eve; and three granddaughters, Mardelle R. Atkins, and her husband, Will Blackstone, Erinna M. Atkins, and Alissandra M. Atkins.
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