Pages past - Dec. 23

On this date ...

1962: Former New Mexico governor and newspaper founder Thomas J. Mabry died in his adopted home of Albuquerque.

He was 78.

Mabry was New Mexico's 14th governor, serving from 1947 to 1951.

He founded one of Clovis' first newspapers in 1908.

And on April 27, 1949, U.S. Highway 60/70/84 through Clovis was named in his honor - Mabry Drive.

Mabry was perhaps best known for his role in a criminal pardon hearing when "Brushy" Bill Roberts claimed to be famed outlaw Billy the Kid.

Mabry, governor at the time, said he did not believe Roberts was the Kid and so he denied the pardon request.

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