From First Lady to County Commissioner
From 1970 to 1974, Maxine Albers was the first lady of Mesa College, supporting her husband, Ted Albers, Mesa’s sixth president, during a difficult and pivotal period.
While discussion had been ongoing for decades, the move to become a four-year college gained momentum during President Ted Albers’s tenure from 1970 to 1974 and was supported legislatively by state Senator Chet Enstrom. Colorado Governor John Love backed the plan, and local organizations such as the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, led by then-director Dale Hollingsworth, joined in.
Still, public opinion was far from unanimous.
“There was a lot of controversy — people wanted Mesa to stay the same and others wanted it to change. So, there was a lot of friction,” explained Maxine Albers. “I think some people just don’t want change. They wanted Mesa to stay the same and some were afraid for their jobs.”
Concern among the junior college staff was real. A different level of academic attainment was required of four-year faculty, and at one point, 94 percent of the faculty presented President Albers with a petition opposing the change. There was also a high level of distrust on the part of local community members who worried that the state wouldn’t support the college monetarily.
In the end, the bill passed, the dust settled, animosities healed, and President Albers resigned in poor health shortly after Mesa College was created.
It was at this time that Maxine Albers ascended. In 1974, she made history by becoming the first woman elected as county commissioner in Mesa County. Having seen politics in action through her husband’s efforts on behalf of the college, she came to her new role as a county commissioner with clear eyes. She also had strong support from Ted.
“Someone asked me if I would run for county commissioner. I said I’d ask Ted. And he said if anybody can do it, Max, you can,” she said.
But there were doubters too.
“A lot of people thought I couldn’t do it. But then there were those who thought I could too,” she added. “It was kind of a fun time, really. I was determined to do what I was elected to do.”
Just as Ted was Mesa’s president at a critical time, Maxine’s tenure as a commissioner from 1974 to 1988 saw plenty of turmoil as the local economy weathered an energy buildup, collapse and rebirth.
Until Ted’s passing in 2002, he and Maxine remained involved in the local community by supporting Mesa College and numerous local and statewide organizations. Ted Albers served as a Mesa College trustee, and in 1992, Mesa State College honored the couple with a Distinguished Service Award, named Albers Hall in their honor, and created the Albers Scholarship Fund to support aspiring engineers and teachers.
Now 100 years old, a distinction she shares with Colorado Mesa University, Albers is married to retired local developer Ben Carnes. Maxine shared that she is proud of her public service and proud of CMU. Looking at the upright piano in her living room, with a hymnal on the stand, she shares her one regret.
“That is one thing in my life I’d have liked to have done: learn how to play the piano better,” she said, smiling.
It is one small regret in a life full of notable achievements.
A Story 100 Years in the Making
Want to learn more about CMU's history? Purchase Colorado Mesa University - A Century of the Maverick Spirit, written by Amber J. D'Ambrosio and Kristen Lummis. The 192-page book chronicles CMU's 100-year journey of growth, resilience, and community impact, celebrating the people and moments that shaped our Maverick history.
CMU's Century Project honors one hundred years of Colorado Mesa University's rich history - celebrating the people, milestones and spirit that have shaped our enduring legacy. As we reflect on this meaningful milestone, proceeds from the commemorative Century Book and events throughout the year will benefit the Century Scholarship, ensuring that future generations of CMU students can continue to grow, learn and carry the CMU legacy forward.