Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date …
1933: Helen Hockenhull of Clovis, daughter of New Mexico Gov. A. W. Hockenhull, had been nominated for queen of the yearbook of Colorado Women’s College in Denver.
1955: A 14-year-old girl, possibly a member of the Black Cat Gang in Clovis, was ordered confined to a girls welfare home in Albuquerque after she was habitually truant from school and her parents were “unable to control her,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
The Black Cat Gang was a “secret organization” for girls that had recently been involved in fights, the newspaper reported.
1955: Clovis’ North Prince Street was covered in “scrambled” eggs, the Clovis News-Journal reported, after a Broadview man’s pickup overturned after sliding into a ditch.
C.B. Pinkston was trying to avoid sliding into another vehicle that had skidded in front of him on the icy road. More than seven cases of fresh eggs were broken in the crash, but a gallon of cream was not damaged, officials said.
Pinkston suffered an injured shoulder and police estimated damage to his pickup at $500.
1960: Roosevelt County voters cast a record 5,929 votes, representing 78% of those registered. The old record was 5,586 set in 1952. Voters favored Richard Nixon over John Kennedy in the presidential race, 4,037 to 1,761. County voters also approved an $8 million state institutional bond issue.
1960: Frank’s University Food Market, at 1031 W. Second in Portales, offered chuck roast for 49 cents per pound, Shurfine lemonade for 10 cents per can and sugar-cured bacon squares for 29 cents per pound.
1965: Actor Karl Malden was in the Clovis-Portales area where he would be conducting a two-week drama workshop at Eastern New Mexico University.
Malden was invited by his longtime friend Lyle Hagan, who was ENMU’s director of speech and drama.
Both men studied at Goodman Theatre of Arts Institute in Chicago in the 1930s and had remained friends.
1965: Barnes Cleaners, located at 1500 Thornton in Clovis, was offering dry cleaning for 25 cents per pound, with a 6-pound minimum.
The cleaners asked customers to bring their own hangers.
1966: The body of a Clovis man killed in Vietnam had arrived in Clovis by train.
Sgt. Daniel T. Martinez, 21, died Nov. 2, officials said.
An honor guard from Cannon Air Force Base escorted the soldier’s body to a local funeral home.
The Clovis High School band, a color guard from the American Legion and a number of Clovis dignitaries also met the train to show their respects.
Martinez died of wounds suffered in combat, military officials said.
1967: Enrollment for the fall semester at Clovis Community College was sitting at exactly 500 students — 341 men and 159 women, according to Charlie Speice, college program director.
Speice said about half the students were military.
The school offered students 34 different courses, with some being large enough to be divided into multiple sections.
All 38 instructors were part-time, and 34 of those also taught at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.
1969: New Mexico House Speaker David Norvell had been dropped from the list of dignitaries invited to participate in Clovis’ Veterans Day Parade because of his stand on Vietnam. Norvell had called the war a “monstrous error” and demanded President Nixon live up to promises to halt the fighting. Norvell said he was sorry Clovis parade officials had taken back their invitation, but said, “I cannot justify the loss of more lives.”
1970: C-B Truck Lines Inc., located at 400 S. Hull St. in Clovis, announced it was providing a new overnight transportation service for eastern New Mexico.
George Santaguida was coming from El Paso to be the company’s terminal manager.
1970: The Off-Campus Programs office at Eastern New Mexico University had announced plans for two classes it hoped would “broaden the education of area youngsters.”
“Introduction to ballet” was for students 6 to 17 and would meet Saturdays for 12 weeks. Cost was $15.
“Basic conversational French” was for students 8 to 18. It was to meet twice weekly for 12 weeks. Cost was $20. The French instructor was Annie Spor, a native of Lyon, France.
1972: Bob Wood of Portales, who was appointed to fill out the unexpired New Mexico State Senate term of R.C. “Ike” Morgan the previous year, won the election to retain the seat in a race that was decided in a Roosevelt County record turnout.
The district had been reapportioned, so Wood faced incumbent Sen. James L. Bruin of Roswell in the contest.
Roosevelt County Clerk Nelda Hayhurst reported that 6,715 of the county’s 8,189 registered voters participated in the election, or an impressive 82%.
Other winners included J. Fred Thompson, probate judge; Odell Smith, sheriff; and Rosemary Shackleford, county clerk.
1976: A 10-year-old Clovis boy had killed a six-point buck while hunting north of Taiban.
Philip Caroland said he brought the animal down with one shot from a 6mm scope-sighting rifle.
Philip was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Caroland and lived at 904 Harvard.
He was a student at James Bickley Elementary School.
1980: Fire caused extensive damage to B&J Drug on Portales’ downtown square.
Officials said no one was injured in the blaze. The worst damage was between the ceiling and the roof.
An electrical issue with a heating unit was probably the cause, officials said.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
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