Former longtime Logan manager dies

Larry Wallin, a manager for the Village of Logan for more than two decades, died Saturday from complications of cancer. He was 67.

His obituary stated he died surrounded by his family.

His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Logan High School gymnasium, with lunch to follow in the school's cafeteria.

Warren Frost, who served for many years as the village's attorney, said Wallin was "instrumental in making Logan what it is today."

"Almost everything positive that's been going on here the last 40 years, Larry Wallin had something to do with that," Frost said. "Just everything he touched was a success and a positive thing for eastern New Mexico."

Frost said Wallin possessed "an incredible amount of common sense."

"He treated every dollar of the village's like it was his own and made sure every bit of money that was spent or everything that was done was done right. ... He protected the village's reputation and coffers at every turn."

Logan's current village administrator, Rodney Paris, said he consulted with Wallin often.

"He was a huge resource for me in this position," Paris said. "He was a wealth of knowledge, and a lot of the knowledge he had is irreplaceable.

"Whenever we couldn't find something, didn't know how things worked or something, he lots of times was the go-to guy. He was always willing to be right there, helping us solve the problem for the village. Larry had a way of getting it done for the people."

Wallin hired Paris as a police officer in Logan in 1997.

"He gave me an opportunity. I hope in anything that I've done, I've made him proud," Paris said.

Wallin's wife of 44 years, Shelley, wrote on a social media post on Saturday: "We lost our rock, our voice of reason and wisdom, and our everything today. Larry Wallin loved his family, his cattle and grand-boys sporting events. Our hearts will never be the same."

Other residents and entities - including Logan Municipal Schools - wrote tributes to Wallin throughout the day, often describing him as a pillar of the community.

Wallin, who grew up on a ranch near Porter and graduated from San Jon High School, served as village manager from 1993 to 2016, when he retired.

He briefly was brought out of retirement twice when his successors resigned or were fired.

All told, he spent nearly a quarter-century running the village.

During his tenure, Wallin saw an influx of nearly 200 new residents and new businesses, mainly because of development along Ute Lake.

In a 2006 interview with the Quay County Sun, Wallin said he constantly was evaluating basic needs such as roads, water and sewage.

He also said he wanted to preserve the town's atmosphere for its residents.

"They say they like the peace and quiet, and they say they'll continue to live here until we get the first stop light. And if one goes up, they say they're moving," he said.

The stop light still has yet to arrive in Logan.

Even after stepping down as village manager, Wallin continued to serve his community.

The Quay County Commission in 2022 appointed him to monitor construction of the Ute Pipeline Project and serve as a liaison to affected residents.

Logan long has opposed construction of the water pipeline, fearing it would adversely affect Ute Lake. The 110-mile pipeline to Clovis, Portales and other nearby communities is slated to be finished in 2033.

Wallin and his wife moved to Logan in 1983, where he started Ute Lake Construction and Alamosa Realty.

Before becoming village manager, Wallin served on the council from 1986 to 1983. He also unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Logan council in 2018.

Wallin since 1988 served on the board of Plateau Telecommunications, including president at the time of his death.

Plateau purchased the vacant New Mexico Bank & Trust building in Logan, added a Plateau store there and rechristened the site as The Bank of Clovis earlier this year. The village had been without a bank for more than a year.

Wallin is survived by his wife, son Cole, two grandsons, one brother and his mother Evelyn.

Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Amarillo is in charge of arrangements.