Real Story: The Rise, Role, and Enduring Legacy of the Committee of 50

Alamogordo, NM – September 28, 2025 – Of the many legends that continue in the ethos of Alamogordo's history is the story of Alamogordo's Committee of 50. The Committee is referred to often in local social media posts as "the shifty 50." Truth be told the Committee of 50 was far from shifty, they were organized and passionate advocates for Alamogordo's growth and prosperity.

Sadly, when it desolved, the evolving organizations' influence and narrative shifted to a fragmented group of individuals with competing and self serving interests. The clout, institutional wisdom and positive outcomes from the past are now a distant memory; replaced by political purity tests, infighting that fuels further discontent, and distrust in the local institutions of business development and government institutions.

In the shadow of White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base, the story of Alamogordo’s Committee of 50 remains a cornerstone of local civic history, embodying both community boosterism and controversy.

The founding...

Formed amid the Cold War era’s military expansion, this once-influential group championed Alamogordo's economic ties to the U.S. military for over five decades before disbanding in 2017.

The Committee of 50 was officially established in 1964 under the umbrella of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, at a time when the town’s economy was heavily dependent on federal military installations. Its primary goal was to advocate for the sustained funding and development of Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range, which remains vital employers in Otero County even today.

While comprehensive lists of the original founding members are not readily available in public records—likely due to the group’s informal beginnings within the chamber—early participants included prominent local business leaders and civic figures committed to bolstering military-community relations.

Obituaries and historical mentions highlight individuals like Jimmie Randall, who joined in 1964 and later served as chairman in 1992 and 1995, suggesting he was among the inaugural cohort. Other long-time members, such as Toots Green (involved for nearly 30 years) and Ed Brabson, are frequently cited in accounts of the group’s activities, though exact founding rosters appear lost to time or archived in private chamber documents.

Membership criteria initially capped the group at 50 individuals, fostering an image of exclusivity that earned it the derisive nickname “Shifty 50” from critics who viewed it as an elitist clique.

Membership:

To join, prospective members needed to demonstrate a strong commitment to community service, make a large financial commitment, champion the support of significant military partnerships and recruitment. Members were nominated by existing members from the local business and military elite.

Over the years, as public perceptions shifted, the bylaws were amended to allow more than 50 members, aiming to broaden inclusivity and counter accusations of secrecy and favoritism. By the time of its disbanding, the group had evolved to include a wider array of residents, though detractors still claimed it prioritized insider interests, such as restricting competing businesses from entering the market.

Committee of 50 Successes:

During its early years Alamogordo public schools ranked in the top of the nation and it ensured a progressive curriculum, adequate funding, teacher recruitment from across the nation, and a close relationship with NMSU solidifying the Alamogordo Campus as critical for the local community and the military.

Among the committee’s greatest accomplishments were its tireless lobbying efforts, which helped secure federal funding for base infrastructure projects like the test track facility, new fire stations and extended runways at Holloman ensuring its longevity and strategic importance. Delegations frequently traveled to Washington, D.C., and the Pentagon to meet with lawmakers and the highest of military brass, the White House to ensure Alamogordo’s voice was heard in national defense budgeting.

On the community front, the group organized the annual “Thanks Team Holloman” event for 21 consecutive years, a massive gathering involving over 200 volunteers that provided free food, entertainment, and activities for thousands of military families as a gesture of appreciation.

Additionally, an annual golf tournament fostered personal connections between base personnel and local entrepreneurs, strengthening economic ties. Supporters credit these initiatives with contributing to periods of prosperity, including job growth tied to base expansions during the 1980s and 1990s.

Disbanding and Fragmentation

The committee’s disbanding in 2017 marked a pivotal shift, driven by a desire to shed negative baggage and adapt to changing times. With the arrival of new F-16 fighter squadrons from Hill Air Force Base in Utah, leaders like Green and Brabson saw an opportunity for a “fresh start.”

MainGate United

The group dissolved to form MainGate United, a successor organization intended to be more inclusive and community-driven, merging elements of the Committee of 50 with the Alamogordo Forum. At the time, the transition was met with optimism from members, who believed it would enhance participation and dispel the “Shifty 50” stigma. However, the partisanship and with recent high profile resignations from the Alamogordo chamber board of Danielle Rondelez have raised further distrust and rumors of both MainGate and the Chambers effectiveness.

Whats next?

Today, as Alamogordo navigates post-pandemic growth challenges and evolving base missions, residents and historians alike reflect on the committee’s origins, criteria for membership, key achievements, and the ripple effects of its dissolution—effects that some argue continue to shape the town’s business and political landscape.

However, the impact of the committee’s disappearance has been a subject of ongoing debate. Immediately following and continuing today, the disbanding, there is a perceived vacuum in organized advocacy, with local businesses reporting slower growth amid national defense budget fluctuations.

Critics argue that without the committee’s focused lobbying, Alamogordo missed opportunities for economic diversification, exacerbating issues like recent shakeups at the Chamber of Commerce, including leadership resignations tied to internal conflicts.

Today, eight years later, questions linger: while MainGate United continues military support efforts, some residents lament a shift toward “self-serving” smaller cliques, contrasting with the committee’s era of broader prosperity.

Proponents, however, point to sustained base activity as evidence that the transition preserved the committee’s core legacy.

As Alamogordo looks to the future, including potential expansions in spaceport-related industries nearby, the Committee of 50’s story serves as a reminder of how civic groups can drive progress while navigating perceptions of power.

Historians note that its accomplishments laid the groundwork for the town’s military-economic identity, even if its end created a fragmented and divided evolution to community involvement.

Citations:

• USA Today article on Committee of 50 transitions (2017)

• : Facebook discussions on Alamogordo business growth

•  Articles and posts on MainGate United formation

• : 2nd Life Media on Chamber of Commerce shakeup (2025)

•  Jimmie Randall obituary mentioning early membership (Legacy.com)

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