Portales, NM – Oct. 23, 2024 – Fifty years ago, Duane W. Ryan, director of broadcasting at ENMU, brought public television to the high plains of Eastern New Mexico. In celebration of this accomplishment and Ryan's contributions, Eastern New Mexico University will rename the broadcast center in his honor during KENW's 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m.

ENMU will host a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on the patio at the newly named Duane W. Ryan broadcast center at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. Following the ribbon cutting, there will be a public reception and tours of the KENW studios.

"This is a rare opportunity to both celebrate KENW's 50 years of excellence and honor the man who brought KENW-TV and public television to our area," said James Johnston, ENMU Chancellor. "Mr. Ryan dedicated 55 years to ENMU, and naming the broadcast center in his honor will recognize his tremendous broadcasting leadership and legacy."

Duane W. Ryan, a champion of public broadcasting and a member of the ENMU community since 1967, passed away on April 6, 2023.

Ryan spent 55 years as the Director of Broadcasting at Eastern New Mexico University. He came to Eastern New Mexico University in 1967 as an assistant professor. It was his dream to bring PBS and NPR to Eastern New Mexico and West Texas to enrich the lives of citizens of this area.

Ryan helped to launch KENW public radio in 1968 and then started KENW-TV in 1974.

For more information on KENW's 50th anniversary and the broadcast center renaming ceremony, visit www.enmu.edu/KENW.