Jan. 15—Albuquerque business leader Herb Crosby died at 84 on Saturday.
Crosby was the president and CEO of Avtec Inc., a management consulting and training firm in Albuquerque.
He also served as a board adviser for the Black Chamber of Commerce New Mexico, formerly known as the African American Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.
Crosby's daughter, Darlyne Hawkins, said he died unexpectedly Saturday . Hawkins said her father was a great role model for her growing up.
"I didn't realize how special he really was until I got to be an adult," she said. "I am so thankful for his life and his legacy."
Karla Causey, president and CEO of Black Chamber of Commerce New Mexico, said Crosby was one of a kind. Crosby was her personal adviser at the Chamber, and Causey said his famous words were, "'Karla, could I give you some feedback?'"
"He was always willing to provide feedback, and then you could do with it what you wanted," she said.
Causey said Crosby had a wealth of knowledge and information to share with businesses in the state.
"It's just a huge, huge loss to the Chamber, to the community," she said.
Crosby also led searches for the Albuquerque chief of police and superintendent of police reform.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said on social media he was saddened to learn of the death of Crosby, "a man of numerous influential and impactful roles in our community." The mayor said Crosby's work with the Black Chamber of Commerce New Mexico and Albuquerque police leaves a strong legacy.
"His work with the state and with businesses, and his deep knowledge of human resources touched the lives of thousands of New Mexicans over the years," Keller said.
Crosby obtained his MBA at Pepperdine University School of Business and Management, where he also was associate dean for some years. Before the pandemic, Crosby taught classes at the University of New Mexico.
He previously worked at Arthur Young Company, United Wilshire Petroleum Inc. and the Opportunities Industrialization Center in Ghana, West Africa. He moved to New Mexico in 1989.
Other organizations and boards with which Crosby was affiliated with include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the governor's Small Business Advisory Board, the board of directors of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the board of directors of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation board, the Del Norte Rotary Club of Albuquerque and Albuquerque Business/Education Compact.
He served on the board of trustees for the University of New Mexico Hospital, for the American Diabetes Association, for the Albuquerque Rotary Club, for Casa Esperanza, for the Emergency Medical Service Board, as chairman for the Rio Rancho Labor Relations Board, for the Black Veterans Association of New Mexico, chairman of the Sandoval Chamber of Commerce, on the Directors New Mexico Loan Fund board, for the Albuquerque Christian Children's Board and for New Mexico Workforce Connection board.