Portales woman's roots run deep

Editor's Note: This is the first story in a centennial series.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Jane Mauk Hilliard near a portrait of her mother in her Portales home. Hilliard's roots are deep into New Mexico and she has made her own contributions to the state's history, including writing the salute to the New Mexico flag.

Every time a New Mexican salutes the state flag, they are reciting words that Jane Mauk Hilliard of Portales and three other members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy wrote to honor the state.

Hilliard said the UDC chapter she belonged to contacted then Gov. Jack Campbell, and asked why the state didn't have a salute to the flag. The women noticed in joint UDC meetings that women from other states saluted their flags with pride.

"(Campbell) asked us to write one in return and we did exactly that," Hilliard said, the salute being adopted by state legislature in the early 1960s.

The salute is just one of Hilliard's contributions to state history. Now at 92, she reminisces on what she's done in Portales, Roosevelt County and the state as a leader and socialite.

She talked about her memories and her activism from her Portales home, including her many leadership roles in organizations that serve the area.

"She's the finest and eldest feminist I know," said her son, John Hilliard. "They did things that the men never got around to."

According to John, she was instrumental in the development of education in Portales, as well as the organization of charities.

With Eastern New Mexico University being one of her great loves, Hilliard established an endowed scholarship that is awarded to one undergraduate student yearly. ENMU is where she received her master's degree in history so the scholarship is usually awarded to a history student, or a student in the liberal arts program.

"(Giving back) has been a point of great pride to me," Hilliard said.

Her roots and her home, filled with silver and crystal souvenirs, date back to New Mexico statehood.

She was born in 1919 in Tucumcari to ranchers from Hudson, a small farming community. Her parents bought her Portales home on South Avenue B; the house is nearly 100-years-old, built by an early settler.

She was baptized at First United Methodist church in Portales and is the oldest living baptized member.

"One of the biggest thrills of my life was ringing the bell of that church as a child, back when it was a wooden structure," Hilliard said.

Following her graduation from Portales High School, Hilliard attended Lindenwood University near St. Louis, in the 1940s.

After college and marrying husband John K. Hilliard in 1943, her career focused on education.

Hilliard taught English at Portales Junior High School before devoting her time to being a stay-at-home mother.

"I came along in 1945 and she gave up her career to raise me," John said. "We're all intellectual readers. It was great to grow up with a teacher at home."

Continuing her dedication to educating others, she and her husband donated several hundreds of their books to the Portales Library in the late 80s.

Today her avid interest in literature keeps her going. John has been reading books to her since April and now they're on their fifth novel related to New Mexico history.

"Her enthusiasm for higher education, politics and history motivate her as positive incentives to enjoy life," John said .

The walls in a corner room of her house are covered with plaques, letters and awards given to her for her work. One of her favorites was an achievement award presented to her by former Gov. Bill Richardson on her 90th birthday.