Richard (Rick) L. Kraft, is a 61-year-old resident of Roswell, New Mexico. He has been married to his best friend Tanya for 35 years. Together they have two adult children who reside in Texas.
Rick attended high school at South Pasadena High School in California where he graduated in 1976. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas in 1980 and received his Juris Doctorate from the Baylor University School of Law in 1982.
Rick has practiced law in Roswell, New Mexico since 1982. In 1998, he opened his own law firm. He has earned several certifications to include: Certified Family Specialist, State Bar of New Mexico; Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Mediation Certification; and Super Lawyer.
Rick has served in many leadership roles including the following: President, State Bar of New Mexico; President-Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary, State Bar of New Mexico; Board of Bar Commissioner, State Bar of New Mexico; President, New Mexico Young Lawyers Division; Chair, State Bar Task Force for Improving Public Confidence in Lawyers; Chair, State Bar Quality of Life Task Force; Chair, Pam Minzer State Bar Leadership Training Institute; and Member, Chaves County Bar Association.
Rick has received the following legal recognitions: Recipient of the Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award in 1990 from the New Mexico Bar Foundation; Recipient of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Outstanding Contribution Award in 1986 and again in 2002.
Rick loves his community and has been involved since moving to Roswell. He has held the following positions as Past Board Member for the following organizations: YMCA, Roswell Crimestoppers, Roswell Chamber of Commerce, Roswell Men’s Church Basketball League, Leadership Roswell Alumni Association, and Valley Christian Academy.
Rick also served as the Chair of Deacons in the First Baptist Church of Roswell, Member of the Pastor Search Committee, and he teaches Bible Fellowship. He also served as President of Valley Christian Academy School Board. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Roswell program and has done so for the past 29 years.
Rick has received the following community recognitions: Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Association for Community Leadership, Heritage Award from the Historical Society of Southeastern New Mexico Foundation, Roswell Citizen of the Year from the Realtor’s Association of Roswell, Outstanding Leadership Award from the Leadership Roswell Alumni Association, and The Kraft Legacy Award from the Leadership Roswell Alumni Association.
Rick is writer and a motivational speaker. Rick was a columnist for the New Mexico Bar Journal during his service as State Bar President. Currently he is a nationally syndicated columnist and submits his writing “Just a Thought” every week.
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He has been the keynote speaker at countless events including the following: Leadership Roswell, state and national bar conferences, Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Graduation, Roswell High Scholarship Banquet and Baccalaureate, Roswell Rallies for America held on September 11, 2002, and at conventions and civic centers across the state of New Mexico.
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Rick’s objective in life is “to make a positive difference in the lives of others by providing them opportunities for personal growth and leadership development.”
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