Edward Lujan

Treasure of New Mexico: Southwestern star Edward Lujan shines as fundraiser and advocate for preserving and sharing Hispanic culture

By Jeany Llorente

 
Edward Lujan, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, inherited many things from his parents: his commitment to preserving his culture, his love for education, and his passion for public service. All these traits led to one thing: giving back.

“My father always said that if the good Lord gave you any talent at all, you should give it back in whatever form you could,” Lujan says. “God gave you a talent for you to use towards something bigger than yourself.” Lujan, one of nine children, took his father’s advice to heart and has used his talent to serve his community in a variety of ways.

He is a husband, father, teacher, mentor, and businessman. He has served on many boards in New Mexico, including the United Way, the Kiwanis Club, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

“I ended up somewhat of a good organizer,” he says.

Lujan might be a good organizer, but he is an excellent fundraiser. Although he shies away from the term, his ability to raise money has given him quite a reputation.

“I call up people now, and they don’t even say hello anymore. They just say how much and for who?” Lujan says lightheartedly. “I hate asking for money, but I do it because I think it’s necessary.”

Lujan has raised funds and awareness for many organizations and institutions, including the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque and New Mexico State University.

“He has a passion for this place,” says Tom Chavez, executive director of the NHCC. “He is a decent man, and his decency is surpassed only by that of his wife. There’s nothing he does that she is not a part of or supports.”

Chavez notes that Lujan, a founding member of the NHCC Foundation, sees the institution as his life’s dream, a dream that has come true. “To me, the Center is about preserving and sharing our culture,” Lujan says. “It’s also about helping Hispanics understand who they are and teaching them that the sky is the limit.”

The NHCC benefited greatly from Lujan’s abilities. He was part of a group that secured about $20 million in state funds and $14 million in private funds, including $2.5 million in software and hardware from Intel Corp. Today, the Center, located in Albuquerque along the famed Camino Real, sits on approximately 30 acres of land next to the Rio Grande.

Lujan, who is retired, holds education high on his list of priorities. Most of the organizations he has helped have some form of educational foundation.

“Edward Lujan has been an extraordinary leader in our effort to develop the Center for Insurance and Financial Services,” says Garrey Carruthers, dean of NMSU’s College of Business Administration and Economics and former governor of New Mexico. “He was largely responsible for helping the college obtain a $1 million gift (from Mountain States Insurance Group). Edward has a long and rich history of success in inspiring the formation and financing of excellent public projects. He’s a true New Mexico treasure.”

The gift was made to create the first-ever endowed chair for the NMSU College of Business Administration and Economics.

“I’m very honored to even have been a part of that,” Lujan says. “I’ve always had a special place in my heart for NMSU. I graduated from there, and three of my children received their education there. It has been a part of our lives for many years.”

Lujan, who likes to relax by building Spanish colonial furniture, received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, a master’s degree in education, and an honorary doctorate, all from NMSU.

He is the former CEO of Manuel Lujan Agencies, an Albuquerque-based insurance company with offices in Santa Fe, Belen, and Taos. The agency, which was bought by his father in 1926, is a family-run business that started as a one-room operation and has grown into the largest privately owned insurance agency in New Mexico.

Lujan has four children – Edward Jr., Jerry, Joe, and Lou Anne – and is married to Virginia Quintana Lujan. “My wife has always been extremely supportive of everything I do,” he says. “Without her, I don’t know if I would have been able to accomplish what I have.”