One of the founding administrators of the Rio Rancho school district, whose name appears on dedication plaques on buildings across the district, died Tuesday after a sudden illness.

Richard Herrera was Rio Rancho's executive director of facilities from the district's founding in 1994 until his retirement in 2002. During his tenure, the district added seven new school facilities, beginning with Colinas del Norte Elementary School in 1995.

Herrera played a key role in overseeing the planning and construction of the CdN campus, along with Eagle Ridge and Mountain View middle schools, Rio Rancho High School, the Mid-High School, Vista Grande Elementary and the new Puesta del Sol Elementary campus. His son Brian has said that the creation and completion of RRHS was his father's proudest professional achievement. He was the recipient of the 2001 "Planner of the Year Award," the highest and most distinguished individual honor conferred by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI). That award is presented annually to the individual whose professional facility planning activities have produced a positive and significant regional, national and/or international impact on educational facility planning, adding to the store of knowledge and best practices in the field.

Herrera was successful in assisting in acquiring $30 million from Intel for the construction of the district's high school. With that in place, the fast-track design-build project was underway for the high school, followed shortly by similar construction of two middle schools. "Anyone can spend a hundred million dollars in a hurry, but it takes a special talented person to craft a building program that meets the needs of students and educators," commented John Friedman, AIA, architect for the Rio Rancho building projects, at the time Herrera won the CEFPI award.

"Richard Herrera was a very important part of the beginning of this school district," Superintendent Dr. Sue Cleveland said. "When the district started, nearly three-quarters of our students were attending classes in portable buildings. When Richard left in 2002, fewer than 25 percent of students were in portables. He made lasting contributions that will make a positive difference for children for years to come. We are very appreciative of all he did for the district, and very sad for his family."

Herrera was an active member and onetime Southwest region president of the Council of Educational Facilty Planners (CEFPI). In 2001, Herrera was named CEFPI Planner of the Year, the organization's top national award.

A New Mexico native who grew up in Las Vegas, Herrera held a B.A. degree from New Mexico Highlands University and a master's from the University of New Mexico. He was one of the first faculty members at what was then the Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute (then TVI, now CNMCC), and worked for Bechtel Corporation in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and then at Northern New Mexico Community College before joining the Rio Rancho Public Schools.

Herrera is survived by his wife Diana, son Brian and daughter Saudi; his mother, Nellie Herrera; his mother-in-law, Ida Ehrman; four brothers and sisters, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Friday at French Mortuary. Those wishing to make memorial contributions may do so to their favorite charity in Rich Herrera's name.