Kay Cargill Jenkins
Attorney at Law
Kay was born in Carlsbad and moved to Roswell with her family when she was 10. She graduated from Goddard High School in 1974 then attended nursing school at New Mexico State University. She obtained an Associates Degree in Nursing in 1977 and a Bachelors Degree in Nursing, with highest honors, in 1986. She attended the University of Texas School of Law, finishing in 1988 with honors. Upon graduation, Kay worked for Kemp Smith, LLP in El Paso, Texas for twenty years then returned to Roswell where she worked for the well-regarded firm of Atwood Malone Turner and Sabin. She began working at the Ragsdale Law Firm in July 2018. She is licensed to practice law in both New Mexico and Texas, is Board Certified in Healthlaw by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization, and has been rated Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent by her peers.
Primary Areas of Practice
- Medical Malpractice
- Health Law
- Personal Injury
Education
- New Mexico State University ADN 1977, BSN 1986
- University of Texas School of Law JD 1988
Honors
- Distinguished Alumna, College of Human and Community Services, New Mexico State University 2000, single representative from the College for 2000 Homecoming festivities
- Outstanding Alumna, College of Human and Community Services, New Mexico State University 1997, one of one hundred University Alumni chosen as honorees on the occasion of the University’s 100th anniversary
- Honors graduate, University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX, July 1988
- Highest Honors graduate, New Mexico State University, College of Human and Community Services, May 1986
- New Mexico State University Alumni Association Outstanding Senior, College of Human and Community Services, May 1986
- Crimson Scholar (3.5 GPA or higher), New Mexico State University, College of Human and Community Services 1982 – 1986, College of Business and Economics 1980 – 1982
- Sigma Theta Tau, National Nursing Honor Society, Pi Omega Chapter, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM (charter class member)
- Phi Kappa Phi Honorary
- With Distinction graduate, New Mexico State University, School of Nursing, 1977
- Blue Key National Senior Honorary, New Mexico State University 1976 – 1977 (one of first two women at NMSU inducted into the society)
- Outstanding Young Women of America
- Outstanding Sophomore Woman, New Mexico State University 1976
Community Affiliations
- Roswell Museum and Art Center, Board of Trustees, 2019 – present
- Roswell Jazz Festival, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2019 – present
- Cattle Baron Restaurants, Inc., Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2015 – present
- Assurance Home Foundation, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2014 – present
- Assurance Home, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2012 – 2014
- College of Human and Community Services, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, Advisory
- Board of Directors 2009 – 2014
- United Bank of El Paso del Norte, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 2010 – 2012 (first woman Board member), Advisory Board of Directors 2012 – present
- University Breast Care Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, Advisory Board of Directors 2002 – 2004, 2008 – 2011, Chair 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Planned Parenthood of El Paso, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 1988 – 2004, President 1998 – 2000, Vice President 1996 – 1998, Secretary 1994 – 1996 and 2002 – 2003
- Esperanza House, Roswell, NM, Board of Directors 2005 – 2007
American Lung Association, New York, NY, National Council 1999 – 2004 - Texas Lung Association, Austin, TX, State Board of Directors 1996 – 2004, Vice Chair 2002-2003, Chair Elect 2004
- Visiting Nurse Association of El Paso, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 2002 – 2004
- El Paso Children’s Justice Center, El Paso, TX, pro bono representation of abused/neglected children in placement/parental rights termination proceedings 2000 – 2004
- National Kidney Foundation, El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 1990 – 1994, Chair 1994
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA of El Paso), El Paso, TX, Board of Directors 1988 – 1994 (charter Board member)
- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure, El Paso, TX, Partner 1997 – 2002
Community Affiliations
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, 2013 – 2018
- State Bar of New Mexico, 1989 – present
- Health law Section Member 2004 – 2009, Section Chair 2007 – 2008, Member 2015 – present
- State Bar of Texas, 1988 – present
- Health law Section Member 1990 – 2004
- Chaves County Bar Association, Roswell, NM, 2004 – 2008, 2011 – present
- El Paso County Bar Association, El Paso, TX, 1988 – 2004, 2008 – 2011
- Member, Board of Directors 1994 – 1999
- El Paso County Women’s Bar Association, El Paso, TX, 1988 – 2004, 2008 – 2011
- Board of Directors 1992 – 1998, President, 1993 – 1994
Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow - American Bar Association, 1988 – present, Healthlaw Forum Member
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- New Mexico Association of Defense Counsel