When J.B. and Libby Pruett reflect on their college days at New Mexico State University, the first two names that come to mind are professors who had a lasting influence on their college studies and beyond. For J.B., who majored in animal science, it is Dr. Lou Holland who taught a class in animal breeding and genetics and later became dean of the college of agriculture and home economics.

For Libby it is Dr. Marion Hardman who taught the freshman English course she took in the summer session immediately after finishing high school. “I had just graduated and thought I was really smart,” she laughs. “Dr. Hardman showed me how much I still had to learn but 40+ years later the memory of that first day in her class is just as vivid.”

J.B. started college as a member of the last freshman class of NMCAMA (New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts) and graduated in 1962 with a degree from New Mexico State University. “It was that period of the school when many of our professors were people whose names are now on the campus buildings,” Libby points out. “In addition to Dr. Hardman, my first math professor was Dr. Walden.”

The Pruetts met in college and married after Libby’s junior year. Libby majored in education with an emphasis on teaching high school math and English. She taught math and English in Las Cruces and Fort Collins, CO.

After graduation J.B. went to Texas Tech for his master’s degree. He returned to NMSU and taught briefly in the Animal and Range Science department. He went on to obtain his PhD from Colorado State. He taught and worked in the ranching industry for 10 years before returning to Las Cruces to work in the family construction business.

“It seems like New Mexico State University has always been a part of our lives,” states Libby Pruett. “My family moved to Las Cruces in the early 1950s and, with our home about two blocks away, the campus became our back yard. It was a great place to play.” Both of their sons are graduates of NMSU. David has a degree in business computer systems and Gary, an associate’s degree in water technologies from DACC.

Both J.B. and Libby were first generation college students who attended with scholarship support. They felt the need to pay back for future students to have the same benefit that they did. Their pledge of $100,000 will support several campus programs including scholarships for the department of animal and range science and the President’s Associates scholars.

In recent years the Pruetts have also been active volunteers with the NMSU Foundation and the President’s Associates (PA) boards of directors. Libby has served on the Foundation’s executive committee and J.B. as president of the PA board.

J.B. has learned a lot about the importance of private fund raising for NMSU. “To maintain the university’s status for academic excellence, it is important to attract private dollars,” he said. “I think we will look back at the end of the campaign and see that it was a wonderful vehicle to reconnect our alumni to this institution.”

“New Mexico State University will always be a part of our lives,” Libby concluded.