The Beginning
1940 - Dads are away at war. Boys across America are fast replacing their
knickers with blue jeans. . . and in New Mexico, juvenile delinquency is on the rise. Al
Buck, president of Rio Grande Steel, envisions a ranch-home for boys from troubled
backgrounds. Here they would learn of hard work, fair play and responsible living through
the rigors of ranch life.
1944 - With the help of civic leaders, the vision becomes a reality when the group acquires 2,600 acres south of Belen, New Mexico. This is the beginning of Boys Ranch.
The first building is constructed on a sandy hill overlooking the Rio Grande. It is built out of grass sod hauled in horse-drawn wagons. The demand for this type of facility is so great that soon over 60 boys crowd this one building under one set of houseparents.
And the boys keep coming from difficult circumstances…
- Clifford – no age given, has a difficult home life
- Thomas – age 8, his stepfather drinks excessively, his mother and stepfather are separating again.
- Troy – age 11, his father is a farm laborer who lives in a truck. Troy spends most of his time on the streets in bad company.
The Difficult Years
1951 - Founder Al Buck and his wife are tragically killed in an airplane accident.
1954 - Boys Ranch faces a financial crisis. In the mistaken assumption that the nonprofit organization is free from all taxation, conservancy taxes are not paid for many years. They total nearly $100,000. It looks as though Boys Ranch will be sold to pay the debts.
Walker Hubbard, Executive Director of the Baptist Children’s home in Portales, New Mexico, agrees to direct both homes. He travels weekly between Portales and Belen, giving talks to raise money.
But in the midst of these difficulties, boys are succeeding . . .
- Johnny A. – was released to his mother as she can now provide him with a normal and congenial surrounding.
- Donald – offered to lead his cottage members in prayer before dinner last evening.
A Stable Future
1968 - The debt is paid in full. The Board of Directors develops a 10-year plan.
Determined never to be in debt again, these dedicated leaders work to stabilize the organization.
Construction begins on the first of four modern cottages to house the boys.
1980 - A massive building project including a gymnasium, dining hall, swimming pool, and office culminates with the last of the four cottages.
1982 - Girls Ranch is established, for girls ages 10 to 18.
- Mary – age 15, is defiant, needs a lot of attention; her adoptive parents have stopped communicating with her.
- Anna – age 12, is a victim of physical and sexual abuse, likes to write poetry.
Families for Children opens it’s doors to provide foster and adoptive homes for children.
- Sarah – infant of teenage mother unable to provide an adequate home; mother decided to place her for adoption.
- Andy – age 8, is placed in foster care while his mother finds a job and a place to live.
1983- The New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation is incorporated, and it facilitates the development of an endowment to ensure resources will be available well into the future.
1984- Hart Youth Ranch opens as a residential setting for teenage boys, ages 12-18, until high school graduation. (Note: Hart Ranch closed in 2001 due to staffing shortages that kept it from operating at full capacity.)
1995- New Mexico Family Connection is organized to help families stay together while improving the quality of their family experience.
1999 - A unique parenting program designed for families with pre-teen and teenage children is offered to the community.
2000 - Pippin Youth Ranch opens as a semi-independant and transitional living program for youth ages 17 - 21.
Families For Children becomes a chapter of Child S.H.A.R.E (Shelter Homes, A Rescue Effort) and begins to recruit foster and adoptive parents in a variety of Albuquerque churches.
