Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1956: Mary Ann and Linda Ferguson of Portales, ages 8 and 6, received a package in the mail. It contained a live alligator.
The children’s father ordered the alligator, which came with instructions about what it likes to eat — minnows, cray fish, shrimp, insects and earth worms.
The girls didn’t have any of those things, but were relieved to learn the foot-long baby gator only ate once a week so there was time to shop.
1956: Hugh Jones Firestone, which offered “plenty of free parking” at 821 Main St. in Clovis, was offering two “Firestone New Treads” for $18.95. Tires had the “same tread depth as new Firestone tires” and “same tread quality as new Firestone tires.”
1960: The Clovis News-Journal had a new “circulation man.” James Griffin, 30, a native of Abilene, Texas, had 10 years experience in the business.
1961: Portales Police Chief E. E. Hale was warning residents to keep their dogs in their yards.
“We have a half a dozen or more calls every day from people who are bothered by stray dogs,” Hale said. “The problem is getting out of hand.”
1965: The four-lane construction project on the Portales-to-Clovis highway was under way and expected to last about eight weeks. Highway officials cautioned motorists to “watch for heavy equipment being used ... for each piece of equipment weighs more than 75 tons and cannot stop as quickly as highway vehicles,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
1966: Clovis’ Sears was having an Easter sale.
Men’s Perma-Prest slacks — “They never need ironing” — were $5.99 a pair. “Ivy and continental styles are treated with Scotchgard brand stain repeller,” a newspaper ad read.
The pants were 65% Dacron polyester and 35% cotton.
Also, little boys’ rugby suits were $8.98 and came with bright-colored vests or two-tone jackets with constrasting slacks and vests.
1966: Cannon Air Force Base golfers were about to be without a place to play. The links were being closed for 45 days so repairs could be made to the watering system. Clovis Country Club was extending invitations to airmen with discounted green fees — $1.85 for weekday play and $3 on the weekends.
1970: Republican gubernatorial candidate Pietro Vichi Domenici had petitioned a district court for a legal name change.
Domenci was born Pietro Vichi, but was known by the nickname Pete, which he wanted to appear on the ballot for the upcoming election.
The name change was approved, but Domenici lost the governor’s race to Bruce King. His political career took off two years later when he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Domenici, who was born in Albuquerque, went on to win six terms in the Senate before retiring in 2008.
He died Sept. 13, 2017, at age 85, and was buried in Albuquerque.
1973: Tom Bonds and Pearl Cervantez were named Man and Woman of the Year at the Bovina Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s annual banquet.
1973: Navy Fireman Jerry W. Partin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen W. Partin of Portales, graduated from Basic Enlisted Submarine School in Groton, Conn.
Partin had received training in submarine escape, as well as safety, systems, and operating principles of the underwater warships.
Partin returned to Portales a few years later and started working at the Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative as a janitor. By 1991, he was general manager for the Cooperative, a position he held until his retirement in late 2017.
1977: An American Civil Liberties Union spokesman urged Congress to repeal federal criminal penalties for marijuana use.
“Marijuana has been called by many the younger generation’s martini,” the spokesman said.
“Frankly, from what I know of both drugs, I would prefer that my children would smoke grass rather than drink martinis, a far more lethal drug.”
1978: Eric Roanhaus was celebrating his 31st birthday as the newly named head coach of the Clovis High School Wildcats football team. Roanhaus received the official nod the evening before from the Clovis school board, stepping up to replace Dunny Goode who had left to coach the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds football team.
Roanhaus had been the sophomore football coach for CHS. In an article in the Clovis News-Journal, sports writer Jeff Martin asked, “What better birthday present than to be named head coach of the Class AAAA state championship football team?”
Roanhaus coached the Wildcats through the 2016 season.
1992: A survey conducted by Clovis Community College found that 86% of city residents considered Clovis a “good” or “excellent” place to live.
Nearly 1,000 people responded to the survey.
The survey also revealed 72% of city residents purchased groceries in Clovis, while 44% purchased clothing in town.
About 65% of those responding to the survey said they use Clovis medical services.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
