KOB Channel 4 News Anchor Trevor Thompson interviews Richard Ronquillo in the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce offices as he receives the Pay It 4ward Award – watch KOB 6 p.m. today. Photo by Chad Lauritzen

COMMUNITY News:

The KOB Channel 4 program, Pay It 4ward, aired Monday night and scheduled again at 6 p.m. today, to recognize Richard Ronquillo for giving back to many in Los Alamos and across the state. Ronquillo is a third-generation machinist/fabricator who started Rich Welding, LLC, 18 years ago. He had worked for Los Alamos National Laboratory where he welded and uses that skill to provide welding repairs for neighbors and friends.

Local non-profit Champion of Youth Ambitions (C’YA), originally nominated Ronquillo for the Pay It 4ward program during the pandemic, but the crux of the program is that KOB 4 arranges to present the award with short notice. It was not possible with the daytime job of the nominator during the monotonous days of the pandemic.

Then C’YA turned 10 last June and a plan was in the works to try nominating Ronquillo once again. C’YA collaborated with former Chamber Director Ryn Herrmann and Chamber Member Services Manager Megan Bucklin who held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the occasion as part of the anniversary celebration at SALA. Ronquillo was invited to mark his contribution and hold the ceremonial ribbon.

When the date was originally scheduled, neither party took into consideration that it was 2024 Primary Election Day. Channel 4 apologized deeply for the postponement and the event was rescheduled.

At the event on Monday, now County Councilor Ryn Herrmann brought along new Chamber Director Sandy Jones. Jones was taken with Ronquillo’s metal work and that sparked an idea for handcrafted awards for the second annual Los Alamos Film and Culture Festival (LAFCF).

C’YA Executive Director Bernadette Lauritzen began to conspire with Jones to try again to recognize Ronquillo. KOB’s Trevor Thompson worked with Lauritzen to accomplish that goal. The plan was to get Ronquillo up to the hill to meet the LAFCF Board and be thanked for his work and to formally kick off the film festival. Ronquillo’s wife Liz was in on the plan.

When Trevor and his videographer Zach arrived, he texted Lauritzen from the parking lot and she went out to meet him.

“As I crossed the parking lot, I heard, ‘Hey lady, whatcha doing?’ it was Ronquillo waiting for his appointment time with Jones. “I was amazed at how easily bold face lying came to me,” Lauritzen said. “I told him Channel 4 was doing a story on the film festival and I got to document it with photos.”

Lauritzen then marched over to greet Thompson and told him the nominee had pulled up at the same time. While she shook his hand, she whispered, “He thinks you’re doing a story on the film festival.”

Ronquillo went inside to meet with Jones and the team re-grouped outside to adjust the plan. Ronquillo’s wife pulled up just in time to walk in the building behind them.

The rest is history and the segment ran last night on KOB Channel 4 and KOB’s Facebook page.

Ronquillo tried to return the $400 he received from Valley Fence Company, Sandia Credit Union and KOB 4 to C’YA, which was met with a resounding “No”! That money was for him and while C’YA could never repay his 15 years of free awards, Ronquillo was able to do something nice for his wife and himself with that money.

When reached for comment about this televised recognition, Ronquillo said, “I have no words.”

Through his Rich Welding & Fabrication LLC, Ronquillo creates a variety of items including fences, gates, security bars for windows for both businesses and homes and he can be hired to create awards for special occasions. Additionally his work includes descansos, a Spanish word for a type of marker often used to mark a passing.

“He made one for Bryan Sanchez, son of a local teacher who passed in a car accident, one to honor Father Graham Golden killed in a car accident in Albuquerque and for local LANL employee Floyd Smith who was Ronquillo’s friend,” Lauritzen said. “He has made many awards for Los Alamos High School sports teams, too.”

After 15 years of making The Spirit of the West award for C’YA, Ronquillo still accepts only baked goods as payment for that good deed.