Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date …
1906: A letter from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Chief Engineer W.B. Storey had reported the name of the railroad station located closest to Texico would be called “Clovis.”
The letter, dated Jan. 17 and written to engineers at Texico, referenced Clovis as “an old French name.”
1930: George and Carl Bohannan were shot to death by auctioneer Vernon Tate, the deadliest day in a 12-year feud between neighboring farm families.
The feud, believed to have started as a dispute between Ranchvale schoolboys in 1922, ended in 1934 with the shooting death of Tate by Bohannan family members.
All three shooting deaths occurred around the Citizens Bank at 300 Main in Clovis. The courts found all shootings were in self defense.
1965: Farmer John Goar, former Chamber of Commerce President Odis Echols Jr. and educator Terry Horton were honored by Clovis Jaycees as outstanding young men. The annual banquet, dubbed “Bosses Night Banquet,” was held at Clovis’ Holiday Inn.
1967: New Mexico Health Department officials were dusting animals in De Baca County for fleas that could be carrying bubonic plague.
While dusting was concentrated over “major population centers,” the Clovis News-Journal reported officials were also giving away small amounts of flea powder to dog owners.
Bubonic plague had been discovered in December in rabbits throughout the county.
Hunting and trapping of rabbits had since been prohibited.
1968: Billed as “world’s fastest freight train,” Santa Fe Railway’s “Super C” had passed through Clovis on its inaugural run from Chicago to Los Angeles.
But it was so far ahead of schedule that local photographers failed to get any pictures of it.
Powered by 3,600 horse power diesel locomotives, the train was expected to carve 20 hours off the cross-country time.
In its first pass through Clovis, the Super C made its five-minute stop two hours and 20 minutes ahead of schedule, and was headed west long before dawn.
The Clovis News-Journal had to rely on a photo supplied by the Santa Fe Railway to use with its story of the event.
1973: The Eastern New Mexico University track and field team, led by freshman Mike Boit of Kenya, was headed to Kansas City, Mo., for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Indoor Track Championship.
Seventeen Greyhounds — the largest group to date — had qualified and were making the trip, under the guidance of coach Bill Silverberg.
Boit was in his first year at Eastern, fresh off snagging a bronze medal in the 800-meter run at the 1972 Munich Olympics the summer before.
The Greyhounds were also represented by three all-America athletes at the meet: Rex Maddaford of Aukland, New Zealand; Sam Yavala of the Fiji Islands; and Jim Lincoln of Houston.
1973: Three Eastern New Mexico University math students were among 638 candidates across the country who received passing scores on an examination sponsored by the Society of Actuaries.
Billy Richard and Johnny Russell of Portales and David Sell of Clovis passed the test. About 40 percent of 3,371 candidates received passing scores nationally.
1973: Bell’s Booterie, at 406 Main in Clovis, was holding its semiannual shoe sale. More than 500 pair were available for $3.86. Freeman- and Pedwin-brand men’s shoes were $9.62, a regular $32 value. All sales were final. No refunds.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact:
