story and top photo by Desiree M. Cooper
Communication Services
"I like delivering, because I get to meet people and see the campus." – Debbie Grimes
Debbie Grimes, a duplicating specialist for Eastern New Mexico University's Printing Services, was awarded a Spirit of Eastern Award for support employees.
"When I found out about the award I said, ‘No, I don't deserve it. There are so many other people who deserve it,'" she said. "I never thought that would happen."
Debbie, who attended ENMU, has worked at the university since 1988.
She began as a housekeeper at DeBaca Hall, a dorm that has since been torn down.
After taking a year off in 1995 to look after her ill father and help her mother after his death, she began her current position in Auguat 1996.
Her job includes "a little bit of everything: mailing, delivering, folding, collating, stapling and duplicating.
"I like delivering, because I get to meet people and see the campus," she explained. "The campus is beautiful; Grounds does a wonderful job."
Her favorite part of ENMU is "the people. I think back to the students who have come in and out; they are the number one part of Eastern."
She misses "not having as much interaction" with the students as she had during her time as DeBaca Hall's housekeeper. During that time, she met then-students Carol Fletcher and Noelle Bartl, now ENMU employees.
Debbie grew up in the Espanola/Santa Fe area, where she still owns a home. Her father worked in maintenance in Los Alamos and her mother was a homemaker. She had one sister, who passed way from cancer.
Her husband, Robert, worked at Physical Plant and retired in 2004. He received a the 2004 Spirit of Eastern award.
"He does what he wants, when he wants, how he wants," she said with a laugh.
The couple met in 1970 and had their first date at a Charlie Pride concert at ENMU. They have been married for 45 years.
They have two sons, Matthew and Erik.
Matthew works as an emergency room nurse in Duluth, Minn. He is in the Air Force reserve, where he works flights to bring wounded soldiers back to the United States and transfers patients from hospital to hospital. He and his wife, Kerry, live with their 10-year-old daughter, Maija.
Erik works at an accounting firm in Austin and lives with his wife, Jenea, in Leander.
Debbie and her husband visit their sons as often as they can, enjoying sightseeing along the way.
"There are lots of neat places between here and Austin. On the back from Minnesota, there is plenty to see," said the grandmother, who wants move to Brenham, Texas, when she retires.
"We want to enjoy life and go fishing, traveling and sightseeing," she explained of her eventual retirement plans, which include visiting the Grand Canyon.
Her hobbies include quilting, crocheting, sewing, knitting and cooking.
"I enjoy anything crafty," said the specialist, who "likes to try new things. I always try something at least once."
While she lives by many quotes, her favorite is, "Embrace each day. Laugh often. Play, dance, dream."
The most influential person in Debbie's life was her husband's mother, who was almost 100 when she passed away in August 2012.
"She was a really special lady, very hardworking," she explained. "She enjoyed life and people. She was always ready to go anywhere and loved helping everyone."
Debbie tries to "enjoy all of life's events, from raising two boys to working. I've had a lot of fun."
She said she feels "very honored to be awarded this recognition and thanks everyone for their kindness."
Supervisor Wanda Newberry said that Debbie "cares a lot about her work and is always willing to go the extra mile to help others.
"She genuinely cares about others around her. She takes care of our students like they were her own children," she continued. "She loves cooking so we love it when tries new recipes that they ask her about."
