Gallup and McKinley County Declare Sammy C Day, Honor Local Icon

On December 2 the Gallup city council formally read a joint proclamation with McKinley County declaring December 6 as Sammy C Day to honor Salvatore Sammy C Chioda. Chioda died on November 14 at age 70 and was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park. The city dedicated the downtown Christmas tree lighting on December 6 in his honor, creating a public moment of remembrance tied to a central seasonal event.

Mayor Louie Bonaguidi read the proclamation during the council meeting and described Chioda as an "integral and profoundly beloved member of the Gallup community" with a commitment to service, local culture, youth, and civic life. Councilor Linda Garcia remembered his broadcast presence and community reach, calling him a "golden voice for Gallup." Those official remarks framed the proclamation as both an acknowledgement of a long standing local personality and a civic gesture aimed at preserving his role in Gallup’s public life.

The decision to pair the proclamation with the tree lighting extended the recognition beyond the council chamber into a public ceremony that draws families, longtime listeners and downtown visitors. For residents who grew up hearing Chioda on the air or who frequented Sammy C’s Rockin’ Cafe the commemoration offers closure and a renewed emphasis on local cultural memory. For civic leaders the act demonstrates how symbolic recognition is used to reaffirm shared values and local identity during an annual public ritual.

Proclamations do not create new policy, but they are tools of municipal governance that signal priorities and help shape civic engagement. By marking a day in Chioda’s name and tying it to an established public event the city and county are embedding his legacy into Gallup’s calendar of communal activities. That embedding can influence attendance at downtown events, strengthen community ties, and prompt residents to reflect on the contributions of local figures to Gallup’s cultural and civic life.