Pages past — Dec. 16

On this date …

1971: Weldon Killough, Clovis High School’s student council sponsor, reported students collected more than 2,500 cans of food for distribution over the holidays. Jose Garcia’s home room contributed the most food and would receive a Coke party, Killough said.

1965: Cash Ramey, one of Clovis’ earliest settlers and a director of Citizens Bank of Clovis since its formation in 1916, died at his home at 414 Gidding Street. A Realtor for more than 40 years, Ramey was also a leader in the cattle and grain elevator business. He was 85.

1954: A spectacular fire, fanned by 40-mph winds, destroyed the Roberts Seed Co. elevator in Portales. Officials said 2.5 million pounds of grain were lost. Volunteer firefighters were credited with saving the remainder of the block-long string of elevators and warehouses.

What’s cooking …

1976: Bob Vinson TV & Appliance at 20th and Mitchell streets was promoting an upcoming microwave cooking demonstration. The store offered to deliver your new microwave for free in the Clovis area, and financing was available.

Tree-mendous …

1954: Fort Sumner’s Christmas tree measured 57 feet tall. Officials said they could not prove it was New Mexico’s tallest tree, but no one had proved it wasn’t either. The tree, decorated with electric lights, stood on Main Street about a block east of the main traffic signal.

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

[email protected]