Juan Oropesa

Committees

• Vice Chair of Infrastructure Committee
• Member of Legal Committee

Biography

Councilor Juan Oropesa was born and raised in Artesia, New Mexico. He married his wife, Corrine in 1969 and they have been residents of Roswell since. They have three children, one adopted child and 12 grandchildren. He received his GED through ENMU-R GED Program and then graduated from ENMU-Portales in May of 1978 with a BA degree with a major in Spanish and a minor in History.

Work History

Councilor Oropesa worked for the New Mexico Department of Human Services, Income Support Division from July 1979 to July 2004. During his employment with ISD he worked in the classifications of Food Stamp Worker, Medical Assistance Worker, Eligibility Worker I and II, Quality Control Reviewer I, Supervisor and County Director. He was a strong AFSCME union member and while associated with AFSCME he served as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice-President and the last two years of membership as President before being promoted to management. While ISD Supervisor he served as President of the ISD Supervisors Association. He was employed with the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce from April 2005 to December 2011.

Boards

Currently serves and/or has served on the Con Alma Health Foundation Board of Trustees, Chaves County Character Counts, Roswell Youth Football League, Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign and the Hispanic Culture Bronze Statue Committee. He also served on the Roswell Independent School Board from March 1997 to March 2005 which he is quoted saying, “I served as President of the Roswell Independent School District Board, and am proud to say I am the first Hispanic to serve as President of the RISD Board. During the eight-year span, I also served as Vice-President for a total of four years. One issue I am proud of while serving as a School Board member is giving University High School students and potential future students a chance at success by voting against a move to close University High School.”

Other Activities & Community Involvement

In addition, he served as President of the Alien City girls fast-pitch league and served on the Roswell Girls Softball Association for over fifteen years. During that time he served as President on two different occasions; served as Vice-President, Secretary, Umpire Liaison, and member. He coached girls fast-pitch softball for over 20 years. During his participation with the Roswell Girls Softball Association Board he was part of the group that was instrumental in getting the softball program into the school system. Councilor Oropesa is quoted saying, “it gives me great pleasure and a sense of accomplishment every time I see articles in the local newspaper of high school softball players signing letters of intent to play with different colleges. It reinforces the feeling that all the time and dedication we invested in this effort was well worth it.”

He was a member of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), has worked with the Daniels Foundation when needed to screen, review grant applications and interview potential grantees, a member of the County Directors Association, a member of the NAACP and served in the Roswell Recreation Committee as a representative of the School Board.

Councilor Oropesa served in the United States Army from January 1970 to January 1972; joined the United States Army Reserves and served from April 1974 until he retired in December 1994. He moved up the ranks form Private 1 (E-1) to First Sergeant (E-8).