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Professor Albert E. Utton, of the UNM Faculty of Law, died September 29 at University Hospital, after a courageous fight with prostate cancer. Born in Aztec, NM, Al joined the law faculty in 1962, specializing in natural resources and international law. He was 67. He is survived by Mary, his wife of 40 years; their son, John Utton and John's wife, Rose; their daughter, Jennifer Fergusson, Jennifer's husband, Berkeley; and two grandsons, Berkeley Jr. and John; his brother, Arthur Utton and wife, Edna; and many cousins, nephews and nieces, many of whom still reside in the Farmington/Aztec area. Al graduated from UNM in 1953 with Phi Beta Kappa honors in Geology and then attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving his law degree in 1956. After serving in England as assistant staff judge advocate in the United States Air Force, he returned to New Mexico and began his career at the University. Over the course of four decades, Al taught thousands of students and took an active part in University life and affairs. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the respected Natural Resources Journal and as Interim Dean of the Law School. In the field of international natural resources, he wrote numerous articles and books and helped to develop legal systems for the orderly and amicable use of shared natural, and particularly water, resources. His public citizenship also extended to participation in state and community affairs, serving as chairperson of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the state Rhodes Scholar selection committee and the Albuquerque Labor Relations Board. For over 30 years, he was the secretary and director of the Albuquerque Committee on Foreign Relations. Active in democratic politics, he served as state manager of Robert Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign. Al was the recipient of local, national and international awards, including selection for the UNM Annual Research Lecture, the Law School distinguished Service Achievement Award, and Aztec Eagle-the highest honor given by Mexico to a non-citizen"for service to Mexico and Humanity." Wherever he went, Al enjoyed meeting people, always exhibition a sense of humor, amiability and vitality. He was a devout parishioner and a devoted family man-a wonderful and loving husband and a generous and caring father. He will be profoundly missed. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, 318 Silver Avenue SW, Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Albert E. Utton Memorial Award in Natural Resources, UNM School of Law, 1117 Stanford NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131.
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