Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1941: Roosevelt County, promoting itself as the “biggest producer of dairy products in New Mexico,” declared June as National Dairy Month.
1945: M and L Cafe, at 106 Southwest Liberty in Portales, prepared to open under the management of Mrs. George Janes and Mrs. Lockey Janes.
The cafe formerly owned by D. Reed had been remodeled and redecorated and would offer diners a choice of counter or booth seating.
1961: Clovis police said they’d broken up a juvenile bicycle theft ring, recovering 23 bikes and taking four boys, ages 12 to 15, into custody.
Police said the boys were suspected of walking Clovis streets at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. and stealing bikes they found outside. They would then strip the bikes, repaint them, and reassemble them into new bikes, which they sold.
Police said 50 bikes had been reported stolen in the past two months.
1971: A former state lawmaker and prominent De Baca County rancher was killed, along with two family members, when the plane they were using to track coyotes crashed near Yeso.
William “Hi” Elbert Overton, 54, his wife Michon, 29, and his stepdaughter Victoria, 7, died instantly in the crash, the Clovis News-Journal reported.
Overton in the 1950s had served two terms in the New Mexico Legislature as a Democratic representative.
Officials said the coyotes had been killing sheep on the Overton’s ranch.
1973: The upcoming Pioneer Days Rodeo had a "whopping $15,220" in prize money.
Officials said it would be divided among 280 contestants, including an estimated 200 ropers and riders.
Contestants included "some of the really big guns of rodeoing," the Clovis News-Journal reported.
That roster included future Pro Rodeo Hall of Famers Larry Mahan and Bob Ragsdale.
Most of the prize money came from entry fees, but $2,300 was provided by the Curry County Mounted Patrol, the rodeo's organizer.
The annual Pioneer Days Parade was expected to draw 100 entries, including cowboy actor Chill Wills. He was the parade marshal best known for his role as the voice of Francis the Talking Mule in a series of popular films.
1975: Hundreds of people lined Clovis’ Main Street, from 21st to First streets, to watch the hour-long Pioneer Days Parade.
The first judge’s trophy — signifying the most outstanding float — went to the Clovis Chapter of American Business Clubs.
1975: Rev. J.P. Moorer, a longtime Clovis resident who founded St. Mark’s Baptist Church at 501 West in Clovis in 1962, died at Roosevelt General Hospital. He was 79.
Moorer was survived by seven daughters, four sons, 57 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
1976: A local veterinarian had been named the Cowbelle’s father of the year.
Dr. E. E. Krause, a consultant for multiple area feed lots, received the honor for his work with the cattle industry across eastern New Mexico.
1977: Five men were arrested during drug busts in Clovis and Portales.
Law officers first raided a home at 1300 Ross St. in Clovis about noon, confiscating 6 pounds of marijuana, amphetamines and hashish.
A farm house just west of Portales was raided about 3 p.m. A small amount of marijuana was found, authorities said.
1977: Clovis' Sertoma Club was gathering used baseball equipment for distribution to area youth teams.
Club members were asking residents to drop off used bats, gloves, baseballs and other equipment at 121 W. First, 817 Lexington and 318 Main in Clovis.
Club members would also pick up donations on request.
Sertoma was an acronym for Service to Mankind.
1985: Clovis zoo Director Chuck Longo withdrew his resignation from three days earlier.
Longo had been unhappy with funding for the city zoo, but said he decided to stay because so many people in the community had rallied to support him.
Some funding issues had also been addressed as the city had recently voted to charge admission to the zoo, beginning July 1.
Admission would be 50 cents for adults, and 25 cents for children under 14.
Children under 6 and senior citizens would continue to be admitted at no charge.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
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