Pages Past — March 1

On this date …

1972: A Human Dignity Commission found no evidence of racial discrimination by Eastern New Mexico University basketball coach Buddy Ball, as alleged by black student athletes. The commission did, however, find “individual instances of violations of the human dignity of several basketball players” and recommended all athletic scholarships that had been rescinded for black athletes be reinstated. The Greyhound Booster Club supported the coach and threatened to cut off its financial support if scholarships were reinstated. University officials ultimately decided to pay five black players for room and board the remainder of the semester, but declined to reinstate scholarships. Black players had alleged Ball called them names, forced them to wear travel uniforms and blamed them for lost games.

1965: Former New Mexico Gov. John Burroughs of Portales was released from Clovis Memorial Hospital where he had been recovering from pneumonia. He’d been hospitalized five days. Burroughs’ physician said the pneumonia had been brought on by flu.

1950: Eastern New Mexico University captured its second consecutive New Mexico Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball championship with back-to-back wins over Panhandle A&M. The Silver Pack finished with a conference record of 13-1. Team members included Kenneth Moore, Keigm Harp and Tex Wallis of Portales, Billy Griggs of Clovis and Blossom Dunning of Fort Sumner

In crime news …

1965: Portales police were investigating a series of weekend thefts and losses. Joe Montez reported $70 had been stolen from his car while it was parked downtown. A 1962 model car belonging to F.L. Grimshaw was reported stolen from the 1200 block of North Avenue A. Martha Newson, of 724 W. 18th, told police she lost her billfold containing $45 and four credit cards. And Olen Rhoten, of 124 N. Houston, lost four keys on a key ring.

Transitions …

1970: Funeral services were being planned for Turner W. Weathers, 89, of Portales. The retired farmer had been born in Stephenville, Texas, and moved to Causey in 1924. He moved to Portales in 1969. Survivors included his wife, Selma, and son Lamont.

1935: A society news columnist reported Mr. and Mrs. William Roberts of Portales had decided on “Billy Jewell (as) the name for (their) dainty little daughter born Feb. 28.”

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. Contact him at: [email protected]