Longtime City of Gallup Official Ben Welch Retires After Three Decades

Ben Welch, a familiar face across Gallup government and civic life, will retire at the end of this year after a 30 year career with the City of Gallup. The Gallup City Council honored him with a commendation on December 22, recognizing decades of work that spanned Planning and Zoning, code enforcement, ombudsman duties, Senior Center management, direction of Red Rock Park, liaison work to the Mayor, and most recently service as Community Services Coordinator.

City Manager Frank Chiapetti underlined Welch’s reach in municipal operations. “Mr. Welch has selflessly devoted his career and much of his personal life to his fellow Gallupians,” Frank Chiapetti, City Manager, said. The Mayor echoed that civic footprint during the commendation reading. “Ben’s impact extends far beyond the walls of City Hall through his deep civic involvement, including dedicating his time to volunteer with local organizations, such as the Lions Club of Gallup, and the Red Rock Balloon Rally, helping to showcase the beauty of Gallup to the world,” Mayor Louis Bonaguidi said, reading his commendation.

Welch’s responsibilities included planning logistics for signature local gatherings such as the Red Rock Balloon Rally and the Gallup Inter Tribal Ceremonial. He also led targeted outreach and support for veterans and people experiencing homelessness. Programs he helped organize include the annual Stand Down Hand Up Project, which provides clothes, food, haircuts, and connections to support services, and Operation Veterans Wellness, a collaborative initiative with Navajo Nation Behavioral Health and multiple partner agencies. City documents and program coordinators estimate that his persistent efforts contributed to reducing the number of unhoused veterans in the area from the hundreds to fewer than a few dozen.

For residents, Welch’s departure raises practical questions about continuity for events, senior services, and veteran outreach that rely on his institutional knowledge and interagency relationships. City leaders will need to prioritize succession planning and confirmations of partner commitments to sustain services and seasonal programming that bring economic and cultural benefits to McKinley County.

When asked about his retirement plans, Welch quipped that he will finally be able to begin 'volume one of honey dos' for his wife Janice Welch. His retirement marks the end of an era in Gallup city operations, and the start of a transition period for municipal programming and community partnerships.