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Gallup, New Mexico (U.S.)

McKinley County

Last modified: 2024-03-09 by rick wyatt
Keywords: gallup | new mexico | mckinley county |
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[Flag of Gallup, New Mexico] image by Daniel Renterķa, 15 February 2024
based on photo located by Vanja Poposki, 14 July 2014



See also:


Description of the flag

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 Renterķa, 15 February 2024


1971 Flag

[Flag of Gallup, New Mexico] image located by Daniel Renterķa, 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 Renterķa, 24 September 2023


Seal

[Seal of Gallup, New Mexico] 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