Lonnie Sumpter, executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, died Tuesday afternoon following a brief illness.
Sumpter, who worked for more than 20 years to make Spaceport America a reality, was 58. His death came quickly and was a shock to a tight-knit community that has shared the vision of a spaceport in
“It’s a big loss to all of us,” said Doña Ana County Commissioner Kent Evans, who has also worked on the spaceport for more than two decades. “He was a mainstay behind the spaceport, and I have a lot of respect for Lonnie.”
Gov. Bill Richardson called Sumpter “a true public servant.”
“As executive director of the N.M. Spaceport Authority, he was a pioneer in his profession and a valued member of my administration,”
Sumpter was able to oversee the first launch from temporary spaceport facility at Upham in September, but Evans said it’s sad that he won’t be able to see the completion of the spaceport.
Sumpter died about 4 p.m. Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, sponsored a memorial that praised Sumpter for his work. The memorial was approved by the Senate.