J. Green

J. Kenneth Ken Green, 803 Painted Pony Lane, passed away April 7 at his home in Artesia. PHe was a longtime newspaperman and co-owner of the Artesia Daily Press. PHe was born Aug. 16, 1938 in Pampa, Texas to James K. Green Sr. and Melba Lee Williams Green. PHe graduated from Artesia High School in 1956, attended the University of Texas in Austin and graduated there in 1962. PHe worked as a director of technical publications at Hanford Laboratories in Richland, Wash., for General Electric and Battelle Institute. PHe became publisher of The Valley Courier in Alamosa, Colo. in 1966. PWhile in Alamosa, he helped create the Cumbres amp; Toltec Scenic Railroad Compact, which was approved by Congress and authorized the Camp;TSR Commission that manages the narrow gauge railroad between Antonito, Colo. and Chama, N.M. PIn 1974, he moved to Raton, N.M. and became publisher and co-owner of the Raton Daily Range. PHe married Mary Lois Zimmerman in 1975 in Raton. PAlong with his brother, Walt, he became owner of the Ruidoso News in 1975, where he was publisher until 1989. PGreen served as president of the New Mexico Press Association in 1981. PBetween 1982 and 1988, he and his brother became owners of newspapers in Socorro, Deming and Belen; and held the contract for the Kirtland AFB military newspaper. PThe brothers sold the newspapers in 1989, and Ken moved to Mesa, Ariz. PThey continued as partners in the newspaper business, acquiring the Artesia Daily Press in 1990 and a majority interest in the Lovington Daily Leader in 1993. PThey sold their interest in the Lovington Daily Leader to its publisher in 2001. PIn 1998, after being diagnosed with ALS, Ken and Mary moved to Artesia. PSurvivors include his wife, of the family home; daughter Leighayn and husband Tom, of Springerville, Ariz.; son James and wife Susan of Columbus, Ohio; father Jim and stepmother LaJuana of Artesia; brother Walt and wife Stacy of Artesia; and grandchildren Nathaniel and Jacob Green of Artesia and Nikelle Hollender of Springerville, Ariz. PCremation is under the direction of Terpening amp; Son Mortuary and no services are planned.
Remembrances should be tendered to the ALS Therapy Development Foundation, 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142.