Breakthrough New Mexicans

honoring excellence, leadership, and lasting community impact

Breakthrough New Mexicans are outstanding individuals whose work and leadership have significantly contributed to shaping a stronger, more vibrant New Mexico. These honorees embody excellence across professional, civic, and cultural domains, standing out as trailblazers, innovators, and community champions. They not only elevate their respective fields but also uplift the people around them—leaving a legacy of positive, lasting change.

Breakthrough New Mexicans recognizes individuals whose exceptional achievements and unwavering dedication have made enduring contributions to the state. This recognition highlights those who have had a transformative influence on the social, economic, cultural, and wellness landscape of New Mexico—those who have helped move the state forward through innovation, service, and integrity. This is both a celebration of individual accomplishment and a reflection of the collective values that define New Mexico: resilience, creativity, compassion, and a commitment to community well-being.

James Lewis

In honor of former New Mexico State Treasurer James B. Lewis – leader, pioneer, and trailblazer – whose nearly 50 years as a dedicated public servant has greatly shaped our community. He originally served as New Mexico State Treasurer from 1985 to 1990; then again in 2006, serving two consecutive terms until 2014. He was the first African American to serve in that role.

Lewis never aimed to be the first in any role; instead, he always sought to be the best in every position he held. He earned five higher education degrees in the fields of health education, public administration, and business. Lewis made use of the GI Bill to receive his associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees after being drafted during the Vietnam War and serving two years active duty and four years of reserve service in the U.S. Army. His extensive education and military service prepared him for all that lay ahead in life, including roles in the public and private sectors.

Lewis was a military policeman, then a white-collar crime investigator in the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, before being elected as Bernalillo County Treasurer in 1982. In 1991, Lewis was appointed Chief of Staff for Governor Bruce King. Lewis held administrative positions in the New Mexico State Land Office and the New Mexico State Corporation Commission, before becoming City Administrator for Rio Rancho in 1996.

Lewis became Assistant Secretary of Energy in 1999 for the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. In 2001, he served as City of Albuquerque Chief Operating Officer, later to become Chief Administrative Officer for the City in 2004.

Lewis’ reach and impact was felt throughout city, county, state, and federal levels of government, and within the private sector, but he is most proud of his service to the people. He was inducted into the New Mexico African American Hall of Fame; the NAACP Albuquerque Chapter Hall of Fame; and the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers Hall of Fame. He received the Legion of Honor Award from the Kiwanis Club of Albuquerque, and he was also awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of New Mexico.

Soledad Chávez

New Mexico Secretary of State / Acting Governor / New Mexico House of Representatives
YEARS OF SERVICE: 1923–1926 (Secretary of State); 1924 (Acting Governor);
1935–1936 (New Mexico House of Representatives)

Former New Mexico Secretary of State Soledad Chávez de Chacón was a pioneer, visionary leader, and trailblazer, whose groundbreaking service opened doors for women and Hispanic leaders not only across New Mexico but throughout the United States. Born in Albuquerque in 1889, Chávez de Chacón was a product of her community, graduating from Albuquerque High School and Albuquerque Business College. She married Ireneo Eduardo Chacón and soon embarked on a path that would change the course of political history for Hispanic women. In 1922, she achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Hispanic woman in the United States elected to statewide office, serving as New Mexico Secretary of State.

Her trailblazing continued in June 1924 when she made national history as the first female Hispanic in the nation to govern a state. She stepped into the role of Acting Governor during Governor James Hinkle’s absence, following the untimely death of the lieutenant governor. With calm authority and keen judgment, she approved requisitions, signed pardons, and managed the day-to-day operations of the state, proving that leadership knows no gender or cultural bounds.

Chacón’s service did not end there. In 1934, she was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, becoming one of the first Hispanic women legislators in the state. She chaired the influential Rules and Orders of Business Committee, further shaping the state’s governance. Tragically, her life and career were cut short when she passed away at the age of 46 in 1936.

Throughout her life, Chávez de Chacón exemplifi ed courage, resilience, and remarkable achievement. She demonstrated with unwavering clarity that women and Hispanic leaders had a rightful place at the highest levels of government. Her enduring legacy continues to inspire countless generations of leaders who follow in her footsteps.

Dr. Lenton Malry

New Mexico State Representative / Bernalillo County Commissioner
YEARS OF SERVICE: 1969–1979 (New Mexico House of Representatives);
1981–1989 (Bernalillo County Commission)

Former New Mexico State Representative Dr. Lenton Malry was an educator, legislator, and community advocate, whose extraordinary service broke barriers and forged opportunities for generations to come. Born in Keithville, Louisiana, in 1931, Malry began his life in a segregated society but quickly distinguished himself through determination and education. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he pursued his studies at the University of New Mexico, where he earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, becoming the first African American to achieve this milestone in the state. His trailblazing career in education included roles as Albuquerque Public Schools’ first black teacher and principal, eventually overseeing equal opportunity programs for the district.

In 1968, Malry made history once again when he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, beginning service in 1969 as the state’s first African American legislator. Over five terms, he championed education, spearheaded reforms, and played a pivotal role in introducing kindergarten statewide, shaping the foundation for early childhood learning across New Mexico.

Elected in 1980, Malry served two four-year terms on the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners, becoming the county’s first African American commissioner. His leadership extended beyond elected office to roles at UNM Hospital, the State Human Rights Division, and numerous civic organizations, reflecting a lifetime commitment to equality and public service.

In 2016, he documented his remarkable journey in his autobiography Let’s Roll This Train: My Life in New Mexico Education, Business, and Politics, detailing his path from segregated Louisiana to the forefront of New Mexico’s public life. Malry’s story is one of perseverance, integrity, and an unwavering dedication to education, equality, and community leadership, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire.