Kinney, Harry

Harry Kinney Campaigning for Albuquerque Mayor (box 5)

Harry Kinney, Albuquerque mayor, business owner, engineer, general contractor, substitute teacher and cabbie was born in Trinidad, Colorado June 7, 1924. He later moved to Raton, New Mexico where he graduated from High School. During his senior year he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. He continued his education at the University of New Mexico acquiring a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1945. After serving on active duty in the U. S. Navy he was a staff engineer for Sandia National Laboratories from 1956-1973.

Kinney began his political career by serving three terms as a Bernalillo County Commissioner from 1956-1958 and 1960-1964. Later he served as a commissioner for the City of Albuquerque from 1966-1973. Harry Kinney worked as Special Assistant to Senator Pete Domenici 1973-74 and 1981-1985. He also served as the Mayor of Albuquerque from 1974-1977 and again from 1981-1985. Under his tenure as mayor the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was created, land for the Rio Grande Nature Center was purchased and the city's first bike trail and senior citizens center were built.

He was active in various community organizations including the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, Albuquerque-Bernalillo Economic Opportunity Board, City-County Joint Alcoholism Board and the Americans for Rational Energy Alternatives (AREA). AREA researched and publicized sources of energy not tied to gas or oil. For the most part, the group was interested in nuclear power. Beginning in 1977 Kinney was a member of the Board of AREA for nine years and President for five years.

Harry Kinney died May 9, 2006 and is buried in Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Sources: Albuquerque Journal, May 11, 2006, A12 "Kinney Was Big Part of City Streets, History" B'nai B'rith Great American Traditions Award in Tribute to Mayor Harry E. Kinney of Albuquerque program, June 27, 1982

From the guide to the Harry Kinney Papers, 1905-2006, (University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research)