Pages past — Oct. 23

On this date …

1971: A Clovis billboard company was expected to lose $15,000 because of a recent ruling by the New Mexico Highway Commission ordering the demolition of unlicensed billboards in the state. D.L. Smith, who owned Thunderbird Southwestern, said it appeared he would have to move his business operation to Texas. More than 9,000 signs were ordered destroyed across the state, bringing New Mexico into compliance with the national Highway Beautification Act.

1952: A Tucumcari jury awarded $20,832 to the estate of D.T. Elliott in the first of a series of civil suits against the city arising from the collapse of a city water tower the previous Dec. 13. Elliott, his wife and young son were killed when the tank burst, its metal sides crushing the home in which they were sleeping, The Associated Press reported.

1937: A.L. Watson of Clovis was fined $100, with $50 suspended, after pleading guilty to riding with a drunken driver. The driver pleaded not guilty to the allegations and was going to trial.

Funny pages …

1961: The comics page lineup included “Blondie,” “Sweetie Pie,” “Mickey Finn,” “Joe Palooka,” “Alley Oop” and “Red Ryder.” Daisy finds Dagwood asleep on the couch and wakes him up by biting his nose. “It’s her way of helping me,” Blondie reports.

Customer service …

1955: Stanley Pawol’s pharmacy offered free delivery to Clovis customers with prescriptions. The phone number was 3451.

Pages Past is compiled by Clovis News Journal Editor David Stevens. Contact him at:

[email protected]