Plenty to remember about Gov. Mabry

On Dec. 28, 1950, the Clovis News-Journal's front page featured two noteworthy stories: the retirement of New Mexico Gov. Thomas Mabry and the death of a man who claimed he was Billy the Kid.

Mabry should be remembered for many accomplishments in his 78 years on Earth.

He was the state's 14th governor, serving two terms, and spent eight years as chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.

He also started one of Clovis' first newspapers, the Clovis Journal in 1909, a grandfather of today's Eastern New Mexico News.

But it's his ties to Ollie P. "Brushy Bill" Roberts that Mabry is most likely to be remembered across the land for decades to come.

Roberts walked into the national spotlight 70 years ago this fall, claiming the outlaw Billy the Kid was not killed in Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881. Roberts claimed he was the Kid, still alive after all those years.

With the help of an attorney, Roberts secured a meeting with Gov. Mabry on Nov. 29, 1950. The purpose of the meeting was to request a pardon for Billy the Kid.

For 45 minutes, Roberts tried to make his case inside the governor's mansion in Santa Fe.

After the evidence was presented, Mabry immediately announced his decision.

"No action will be taken on his petition for a full pardon for Billy the Kid because I don't believe this man is Billy the Kid," Mabry said.

Just one month later, Mabry talked with reporters about his retirement from politics. The same Clovis newspaper that carried the story also brought news of Roberts' death in his adopted community of Hico, Texas.

"Brushy Bill Roberts died Wednesday - with his boots on and far from the frontier land he claimed he roamed as Billy the Kid," read The Associated Press account.

"The aged cowboy dropped dead of a heart attack as he walked the streets ... He was dressed as always, in a fringed frontier shirt, cowboy hat and boots."

Most researchers believe Roberts was 71 when he died, though he claimed he was 90 when he sought the pardon.

But while Mabry may be best remembered for the Brushy Bill controversy, Clovis will remember him for another reason.

And today is a good day to remember Mabry because 70 years ago, we named a portion of U.S. Highway 60/70/84 in his honor: Mabry Drive.

David Stevens writes about regional history. Contact him at:

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