Pages past - May 13

On this date ...

1983: Memorial services for former Eastern New Mexico University President Floyd Golden were held in the library on campus bearing his name.

Golden, 85, died Feb. 3 in Amarillo. He was the first dean when the school opened in 1934, and became president in 1941, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1960.

Golden was eulogized by ENMU President Warren Armstrong, as well as Robert Matheny, Eastern's vice president for academic affairs who would soon replace Armstrong as president, and Buck Wilson, chairman of the ENMU board of regents.

1973: A nationwide shortage of fuel threatened to make the upcoming planting season challenging for farmers, potentially spilling over into a food shortage, according to New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici.

In a release from his office, Domenici said Curry County was in the heart of the affected area, noting that "farmers may not have the fuel they need to run their irrigation systems and their tractors."

Domenici said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz had released many additional acres for planting in the 1973 growing season — 55,000 acres in Curry County, alone, an increase of 30 percent from 1972 — but added, "there is a real possibility that Mr. Butz' goal may be frustrated by a scarcity of diesel fuel and natural gas."

Pages Past is compiled by Betty Williamson. Contact her at: [email protected]