August 20, 2026
Community Forum: 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Mora High School Gymnasium
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • 6:00 p.m. -- Joseph M. Montoya Gymnasium
Join Mora Independent Schools and members of the Mora community for a special Community Forum celebrating 50 years of the Joseph M. Montoya Gymnasium.
Dedicated in 1976, the gymnasium has been much more than a place for basketball and volleyball. For five decades, it has served as a gathering place for generations of students, families, athletes, educators, and community members. It has hosted championship moments, school celebrations, graduations, community events, and countless memories that have become part of the story of Mora.
Honoring the Class of 1976
The evening will feature a panel of Mora High School Class of 1976 graduates - the first graduating class to use the new gymnasium. Panelists will share firsthand memories of the gym's opening and their experiences during its first year.
Invited panelists include:
• Shirley (Gauna) Vigil - Class of 1976 Student Council President, who participated in the original gym dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Mark Cassidy - Class of 1976, legendary Mora basketball player and coach, college athlete at New Mexico Highlands University, and former professional player in Australia
• Elmer Aragon - Class of 1976 Valedictorian and Stanford-educated attorney
The History Behind the Gym and Its Famous Mural
Dr. Fidel Trujillo will provide a historical presentation exploring the story of the gymnasium, its 1976 dedication, and the significance of its connection to Mora's educational and community history.
The presentation will also examine the gym's remarkable 37-by-11-foot triptych mural, painted by renowned Mexican muralist Aarón Piña Mora, who served as an artist-in-residence in the Mora schools through the New Mexico Arts Commission. The mural's imagery tells a story of New Mexico's history and cultures and remains one of the gymnasium's most distinctive and treasured features.
T
he presentation will also explore the role of Senator Joseph M. Montoya, for whom the gymnasium is named, and the broader legacy of education, athletics, and community that the facility represents.
Looking Toward the Next 50 Years
This celebration is also an opportunity to look forward.
As Mora Independent Schools enters the Planning and Assessment Phase of its facilities planning process with the Public Schools Facilities Authority (PSFA), community stakeholder engagement is an important part of determining the future of our facilities.
The high school gymnasium is currently being evaluated for needed improvements, including structural repairs and renovations to areas such as the lobby, restrooms, and locker rooms. While replacement has been raised as one potential option, the District believes there is significant value in exploring how the existing gymnasium can be preserved, renovated, and modernized while retaining the character, capacity, and community functions that make it special to Mora.
The gymnasium continues to serve the community well beyond athletics, including graduation ceremonies, school activities, community gatherings, and emergency shelter needs.
During the forum, community members will have an opportunity to:
• Share memories and stories about the gym
• Learn about its history and significance
• Discuss what the gym means to Mora today
• Identify priorities for renovation and modernization
• Consider how the facility can remain functional and accessible for future generations
• Help shape the District's thinking as it plans for the next 50 years
This is more than a celebration of a building. It is a celebration of the people, memories, accomplishments, and community that have filled it for 50 years, and an invitation to help determine what comes next.
Please join us on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the Mora High School Gym.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • 6:00 p.m. -- Joseph M. Montoya Gymnasium
Join Mora Independent Schools and members of the Mora community for a special Community Forum celebrating 50 years of the Joseph M. Montoya Gymnasium.
Dedicated in 1976, the gymnasium has been much more than a place for basketball and volleyball. For five decades, it has served as a gathering place for generations of students, families, athletes, educators, and community members. It has hosted championship moments, school celebrations, graduations, community events, and countless memories that have become part of the story of Mora.
Honoring the Class of 1976
The evening will feature a panel of Mora High School Class of 1976 graduates - the first graduating class to use the new gymnasium. Panelists will share firsthand memories of the gym's opening and their experiences during its first year.
Invited panelists include:
• Shirley (Gauna) Vigil - Class of 1976 Student Council President, who participated in the original gym dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Mark Cassidy - Class of 1976, legendary Mora basketball player and coach, college athlete at New Mexico Highlands University, and former professional player in Australia
• Elmer Aragon - Class of 1976 Valedictorian and Stanford-educated attorney
The History Behind the Gym and Its Famous Mural
Dr. Fidel Trujillo will provide a historical presentation exploring the story of the gymnasium, its 1976 dedication, and the significance of its connection to Mora's educational and community history.
The presentation will also examine the gym's remarkable 37-by-11-foot triptych mural, painted by renowned Mexican muralist Aarón Piña Mora, who served as an artist-in-residence in the Mora schools through the New Mexico Arts Commission. The mural's imagery tells a story of New Mexico's history and cultures and remains one of the gymnasium's most distinctive and treasured features.
T
he presentation will also explore the role of Senator Joseph M. Montoya, for whom the gymnasium is named, and the broader legacy of education, athletics, and community that the facility represents.
Looking Toward the Next 50 Years
This celebration is also an opportunity to look forward.
As Mora Independent Schools enters the Planning and Assessment Phase of its facilities planning process with the Public Schools Facilities Authority (PSFA), community stakeholder engagement is an important part of determining the future of our facilities.
The high school gymnasium is currently being evaluated for needed improvements, including structural repairs and renovations to areas such as the lobby, restrooms, and locker rooms. While replacement has been raised as one potential option, the District believes there is significant value in exploring how the existing gymnasium can be preserved, renovated, and modernized while retaining the character, capacity, and community functions that make it special to Mora.
The gymnasium continues to serve the community well beyond athletics, including graduation ceremonies, school activities, community gatherings, and emergency shelter needs.
During the forum, community members will have an opportunity to:
• Share memories and stories about the gym
• Learn about its history and significance
• Discuss what the gym means to Mora today
• Identify priorities for renovation and modernization
• Consider how the facility can remain functional and accessible for future generations
• Help shape the District's thinking as it plans for the next 50 years
This is more than a celebration of a building. It is a celebration of the people, memories, accomplishments, and community that have filled it for 50 years, and an invitation to help determine what comes next.
Please join us on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the Mora High School Gym.