Lenton Malry
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Lenton Malry | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives | |
| In office 1969–1979 | |
| Member of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office 1981–1989 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 30, 1931 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Grambling College (BS), Texas College (MA), University of New Mexico (PhD) |
| Occupation | Politician, educator |
Lenton Malry (born September 30, 1931) was an American politician and educator who was the first African American to serve in the New Mexico Legislature. Representing an Albuquerque district as a Democrat, Malry won election to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1968 and served from 1969 to 1979. He also worked as a schoolteacher, principal, and county commissioner, among other roles.
Malry was born in Keithville, Louisiana, on September 30, 1931, one of three sons of James and Mary Malry.[1] He grew up on his parents' farm and graduated from Central Colored High School in 1948. He received his BS degree in education from Grambling College in 1952 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving in the education office at RAF West Drayton. He received his MA degree from Texas College in 1957 and his PhD from the University of New Mexico in 1968, both in educational administration. He was the first African American to earn a doctorate in education from the University of New Mexico.[2]
Career as educator
After receiving his master's degree, Malry worked as a teacher at Douglass High School in Sherman, Texas. For about four years, he worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, teaching first at the Kinlichee School (part of the Navajo Nation in Arizona) and then at the Gallup-McKinley County Schools in New Mexico. In 1962, he switched from teaching fourth grade to teaching at Lincoln Junior High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He became principal of John Marshall Elementary School in 1964 and of La Mesa Elementary School in 1968.[2] He was the first Black male teacher in New Mexico and the first African American principal in the Albuquerque Public Schools.[3] He became the equal opportunity director for Albuquerque Public Schools in 1975 and served in this office until 1987, when he retired to launch his own affirmative action consulting firm.[4]
Career as politician
Malry was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1968, unexpectedly ousting Republican state representative Edward Dunne in an Albuquerque-based House district that was 99% white.[5] Malry assumed office in 1969, becoming New Mexico's first Black state legislator. He served five two-year terms until 1979.[2] He advocated for investment in public education and universal kindergarten.[4] In 1980, he was elected to the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners and served two four-year terms. He was the first African American to serve as a Bernalillo County commissioner.[4]
