Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1961: Donald C. Moyer officially became the third president of Eastern New Mexico University in a “colorful inaugural ceremony attended by Gov. Edwin L. Mechem and learned people representing over 80 schools of higher education and professional societies in the United States,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
The university's Symphonic Band played for an academic procession to the football stadium where formal ceremonies took place.
Moyer had assumed his duties as president 10 months earlier, succeeding Floyd Golden who'd held the job since 1942. Charles Meister would succeed Moyer in 1965.
1966: Officials said 530 people died in U.S. traffic accidents over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, breaking the previous record of 490 set one year earlier.
Accident victims included two local residents - a 3-year-old Clovis girl and a 21-year-old airman stationed at Cannon Air Force Base.
Beth Ann Lynch, who lived at 1600 E. Brady, died after being struck by a car in the street near her house. The car's driver told police she swerved to avoid striking a large dog that had run in front of her vehicle and she did not see the girl. Witnesses said they saw a dog belonging to the Lynch family in the street at the time of the accident.
Airman Larry Foster, 21, along with three other airmen, was returning to Clovis after a day at Conchas Lake when the vehicle Foster was driving “went out of control” near Grady, officials said. Excessive speed and alcohol were factors in the accident, police said. Foster was dead on arrival at Clovis' Memorial Hospital. The passengers were all hospitalized with injuries ranging from contusions and abrasions to broken bones.
1971: New Mexico's attorney general had ruled public schools that prohibit students from speaking their native language on campus are violating the U.S. Constitution.
“The freedom of speech … is among the fundamental rights and liberties protected by the due process clause of the 14th amendment,” David Norvell said.
Norvell issued his formal opinion after reports that some schools in New Mexico had banned students from speaking Spanish on school grounds and on school buses, the Portales News-Tribune reported.
1971: Eastern New Mexico University reported 616 students had been listed as candidates for graduation in ceremonies set for June 3.
The number was a record, breaking the previous record of 592 set one year earlier.
Gov. Bruce King was scheduled to speak at the combined baccalaureate and commencement services to be held in the Physical Education Complex arena.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact:
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