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![[Flag of Gallup, New Mexico]](../images/u/us-nmgal.gif)
image by Daniel Rentería, 15 February 2024
based on photo located by
Vanja Poposki, 14 July 2014
See also:
From the city's official website, the flag features the "city's iconic thunderbird".
www.gallupnm.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=93
What is shown on the flag is indeed the city's logo, lettering excluded:
"Since the 1950's, the city has incorporated the thunderbird into its various logos in some fashion. In 2012, the City Council adopted a revised version of the traditional logo that provides a clear and easily reproducible form, replacing a variety of alternatives in use."
Ivan Sache, 14 July 2013
The flag of Gallup was adopted by Resolution No. R2013-13 on April 9, 2013.
In this resolution, an official black and white image of the flag of Gallup is
also seen. Its official description reads: "The design of the official flag of
the City of Gallup shall incorporate the thunderbird logo as adopted by the City
Council in June 2012, positioned in the center of a solid-colored field in
accordance with Administrative Rules and Regulations."
This proposal was
submitted by former city general services director Rick Snider six days earlier.
As such, it appears he can be considered the designer of the flag.
Daniel
Rentería, 15 February 2024
![[Flag of Gallup, New Mexico]](../images/u/us-nmgal-o.jpg)
image located by Daniel Rentería, 24 September 2023
According to this article by The Gallup Independent, the idea of a flag for
Gallup was first discussed in 1969 at a city council meeting. A contest stemmed
from this which concluded on August 17 that year. The judges were: Cordon Laite,
artist and illustrator of several books; Mrs. A. Clarke Prather, art teacher;
and Howard Dana, architect. The originally approved choice for the flag of
Gallup was, in the end, rejected. This is because in early 1971, Mayor Ray
Erwin, Police Chief Manuel Gonzales, City Manager Jim Fleming, and the city
councilmen sat down and made one. The mayor of Gallup said about this original
winning design that "it looks too much like a hippie peace symbol."
The
first flag of Gallup was bright gold, edged in blue, and had the city symbol, a
blue and white thunderbird spreading its wings in the center of the flag. Around
the thunderbird are the words "Gallup" and "New Mexico". The Sa-So Company of
Grand Prairie, TX. sewed the final version of the flag, and added a gold fringe.
Mayor Erwin stated that they added blue and gold because they thought it looked
good. The gold field is a representation of the New Mexico flag. The city
manager first proudly unveiled the flag at the city meeting on the night of 9
May 1971. The original copy was sewn in nylon material.
I do not have any
images of the original winning design, however, it is described according to the
article as featuring an oval Zia symbol outlined in red on a white ground with
blue inside the Zia symbol. The oval was divided in three parts to symbolize the
three cultures of the Gallup area.
Daniel Rentería, 24 September
2023
![[Seal of Gallup, New Mexico]](../images/u/us-nmgal).gif)
image located by Ivan Sache, 14 July 2013
As far as the corporate seal is concerned:
"The city also has adopted a new corporate seal that uses the new version of the thunderbird. The seal
displays the thunderbird inscribed by a stylized circle and the words "City of Gallup, New Mexico" and "Founded 1881." The seal is to be used as determined by New Mexico or city statute, and will most commonly appear on official documents requiring the impression of a corporate seal."
www.gallupnm.gov/index.aspx?nid=436
Ivan Sache, 14 July 2013
