El Pomar award includes $25,000 in grant funds

BLACKHAWK– A life dedicated to helping others and the ability “to positively influence decisions,” has earned LeRoy J. Salazar the 2018 Award for Leadership and Service from the El Pomar Foundation.

Accompanied by several family members, Salazar was honored at the kick-off luncheon for El Pomar’s annual statewide meeting here Monday. He was nominated by members of the San Luis Valley Council for El Pomar and was chosen from finalists nominated by all 11 regional councils across the state.

The award included $25,000 in El Pomar grant funds which Salazar split between the Adams State University Foundation with $20,000 and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the SLV for $5,000.

Tammy Lopez, executive director of the ASU Foundation, said Salazar instructed that $10,000 go to the Emma and Henry Salazar Memorial Scholarship and $10,000 to the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center.

“I am very excited that the Salazar family established this scholarship to assist students at Adams State University,” Lopez said. “The purpose of the scholarship is to help first generation students, and this fits such a great need in the San Luis Valley.

“I was a first-generation student and am so thankful for the opportunity I had to attend and graduate from ASU.”

The Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center is located at ASU’s Luther Bean Museum and is dedicated to the study and preservation of the natural and cultural resources of the Rio Grande and its tributaries in Colorado. A key component of the center is the creation of internships for students in a range of disciplines.

Salazar was recognized for serving on the ASU board of trustees for several terms, but also for his work with youth through the Hope for Children Foundation and the Santa Maria orphanage in Colon, Mexico. He has also been an advocate of agriculture and water in the SLV his entire life.

John McClure with Hope for Children, who was present for the award presentation, said Salazar was instrumental in starting the foundation in 2000.

Salazar was also the driving force in helping the Mexico orphanage starting in 1989 when he convinced a group of SLV farmers to accompany him there to build a water purification system. Since then many other volunteers, including several Rotarians from the SLV and elsewhere, make annual trips there and have built a school, dorms and developed training programs in such areas as welding and sewing.

Salazar credited the people of the SLV for the many advancements at the orphanage including opening their wallets and dedicating time to make the trip there.

“LeRoy stands out among leaders in the entire San Luis Valley,” said his award nomination from the SLV Council. “He is gracious and a gentleman who has the clout among those around him to positively influence decisions, even on the most controversial subjects.

“He had dedicated his life to improving the lives of others; making personal sacrifices to do so. His ability to bring people together in a respectful manner is to be admired,” the nomination continued. “His gentle but commanding presence gains the confidence of those around him to help bring consensus on tough issues.

“His innovative ideas, practical solutions and intense personal effort has helped realize many improvements in the San Luis Valley.”