Nancy and Pete Domenici already have one, and Barbara and Bill Richardson will have theirs.
The Board of Regents unanimously approved the naming of a UNM building for the Richardsons on Tuesday night. A portion of the new UNM Children's Hospital and Critical Care Pavilion will be known as the Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion.
Along with Domenici, Richardson will be at a groundbreaking ceremony today at UNM Hospital.
"I do not know any other two individuals in public life in this state that have done so much for the University," Regents President Jamie Koch said. "If we didn't have these kinds of public officials to devote that amount of time to us and help us get the funds to do that, we wouldn't have the medical school. We wouldn't have the law school. We wouldn't have the buildings we have."
Gov. Richardson increased the state's tobacco tax to dedicate $40 million of a $233.8 million construction project for the children's hospital that began Oct. 13.
It is UNM's largest construction project.
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Philip Eaton and Koch sat with legislators to address the needs of the hospital. Koch said the governor immediately supported the University's need for money for the hospital.
"The construction of that hospital would not be here if the governor had not agreed right from the very start to let that cigarette tax of 14 cents to be used," Koch said.
Because of this and other contributions to the state, the regents decided it would be appropriate to name the building for the governor and his wife.
Regent Maria Griego-Raby said it is a great honor to have a say in naming, because her mother is a patient at UNMH, and her son was born there.
"I have a special place in my heart not only for the University but for the hospital," she said.
Regents' policy states buildings can be named after people who have shown generosity to the University. The name is expected to last the lifetime of the facility.
Hospital employees have been talking about the project for 10 years. It is scheduled for completion in Fall 2007.
"Our goal is to work with contractors to have a good building, so we bring the building in and on time," said Steve McKernan, top hospital administrator.
The pavilion will have a maternity center, adult critical care units, emergency and trauma services, a newborn intensive care unit and private patient rooms.
It is the first building in New Mexico to be named after the governor and his wife.
Within the next couple of weeks, Barbara, an advocate for children, is expected to spend time reading to children at UNMH and to bring 500 books along with her.
On Monday, the committee on naming facilities met to recommend the name to the regents.
Mike Carroll, vice president for institutional advancement, said Richardson has amassed an incredible record as a public servant.
"Together she (Barbara) and Governor Richardson are tireless advocates for the well-being of families in our community," Carroll said.
