THE MOST SENIOR MEMBER OF THE NEW MEXICO STATE SENATE HAS PASSED AWAY. JOHN PINTO HAD SERVED IN THE ROUNDHOUSE SINCE 1977. PINTO WAS BORN IN 1924 AND WAS RAISED IN ARIZONA AND GALLUP, NEW MEXICO. HE SERVED IN THE MARINES AS A CODE TALKER AND IN 2001 RECEIVED A CONGRESSIONAL SILVER MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS SERVICE. HE REPRESENTED THE THIRD DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDED THE FOUR CORNERS AND PARTS OF WESTERN SAN JUAN COUNTY AND A PORTION OF WESTERN MCKINLEY COUNTY. NO CAUSE OF DEATH HAS BEEN RELEASED
