Tri-Cities

Former Daily Times publisher Sammy Lopez dies

Lopez served as director of press association and on board of Foundation for Open Government
Sammy Lopez

Former Daily Times publisher and longtime New Mexico newsman Sammy Lopez died Sunday in Albuquerque from complications from a stroke.

A native of Jarales, Lopez was a 1973 graduate of Belen High School. He worked in the newspaper business his adult life, serving as the publisher of newspapers in Farmington, Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Ruidoso, Deming and Fort Sumner, as well as the Valencia County News Bulletin.

Lopez served as the executive director of the New Mexico Press Association since 2019, after serving as a member throughout his career. He also was a 2010 NMPA Hall of Fame inductee, according to the organization’s website.

“He was always an advocate and champion for the newspaper industry. Sammy came into the organization determined to revitalize the NMPA, which he did by honoring relationships and being an astute businessman,” NMPA President Barbara Beck said in a written statement.

“He was always willing to give advice about advertising and editorial content, and many of us benefited from his sound guidance,” Beck said. “He had a passion for journalism and a deep devotion to member newspapers and the people who comprised them.”

Lopez also served as the treasurer for the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.

“He was a valuable member of our board. He was truly so important to the press association,” said Melanie Majors, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. “He kept us on a financial even keel.”

Lopez “was one of the very first folks, who earned a Dixon Award” in 2008, Majors said.

The award “recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of citizens and organizations in New Mexico who champion transparency and defend the people’s right to know the affairs of government,” according to NMFOG.

Lopez was a staunch advocate for open government and he knew and understood both state and federal laws government must follow to remain transparent.

As publisher of the Farmington Daily Times, he took the city of Farmington to court for refusing to release the names of its city manager applicants in 2007. The Daily Times won the case.

“He always supported the role of newspapers as a watchdog of government,” said Joe Garcia, former editor of the Daily Times. “I had 100% support in fighting for public records from the city of Farmington, and its police force, culminating in a court victory after I had left. He called me afterward to excitedly deliver the news.”

“He was also very involved with the Foundation for Open Government and was dedicated to the public’s right to know and speaking truth to power,” said Farmington attorney Victor Titus.

Titus, a longtime friend, said Lopez was “well-respected” in the newspaper industry. “Though small in stature, he was a giant in his field,” Titus said.

“I can remember his easy smile in the newsroom,” said Lindsay Pierce Martin, who worked as a photographer at The Daily Times. She said her experience at the paper was “life-changing,” and it was Lopez who interviewed her “for my very first real newspaper job.”

Majors said Lopez “always spoke fondly of his time in Farmington and working at the paper. His time in Farmington was important to him.”

“He was invaluable to what we did and to every community he lived in. He really liked small-town New Mexico,” she said.

“I'm not sure which Sammy loved more: Newspapers or New Mexico? Maybe they're inseparable. But I do know in addition to his immediate family, Sammy also loved his second family – those who worked alongside him to produce the best possible news outlets for the communities they served,” Garcia said.

Lopez is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kathy Lou Lopez, and his daughter, Melinda Lopez, and three grandchildren.

Services will be Friday, Oct. 18, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church in Belen. A visitation will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the Rosary at 10 a.m. and Mass at 10:30 a.m.