Pages Past: July 16

On this date ...

1975: Cannon Air Force Base was preparing for the arrival of a new wing commander.

Col. Cecil Crabb would become the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing commander by week’s end, succeeding Brig. Gen. (select) John Bennett.

Bennett had been named inspector general for Tactical Air Command.

1975: Eli “Billy” Dominguez tossed a no-hitter to lead Tucumcari’s Senior League All-Stars to a 9-1 victory over Friona.

Dominguez struck out 15 while walking five in the game.

Dominguez also had two hits and scored the game’s first run.

1960: Al Whitehouse, a five-year veteran with New Mexico State Police, began working in Roosevelt County.

The Portales News-Tribune reported state police headquarters had recently issued a new directive — to stop 10 cars daily for routine inspections.

1917: Ray Bauer was born in Portland, Oregon.

After graduating high school, the baseball slugger was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and he soon found himself playing minor league ball in Clovis.

He played eight seasons of professional baseball, interrupted by World War II, and then made Clovis home, marrying Dorothy Dale in 1951.

He operated Clovis’ Bauer Auto Supply.

Pioneer baseball fans still remember him as Ray “Power” Bauer. He hit 66 home runs in his professional career, including 19 in 1948.

He died in 2010 at age 93.

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. For more regional history, check out his weblog at:

www.highplainsyesterdays.com