Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1930: Willie Chambers of Portales was brought to the Baptist hospital in Clovis by ambulance after he was injured in a gravel pit accident north of Portales.
Caliche caved in on top of Chambers, burying him under several tons of dirt, the Clovis Evening News-Journal reported.
Chambers was able to keep his head above the slide and called to men working nearby for help.
He suffered a double fracture of the hip and other bruises and cuts.
1941: Two cowboys were hospitalized after suffering injuries at the annual Fort Sumner rodeo.
Jonas DeArman of Clovis, a former world-champion bronc rider, suffered multiple fractured ribs trying to ride a steer.
Paul Hickman of Dunlap suffered a concussion when he was thrown from a bronc.
1946: Portales’ City Council had voted to give parking meters a 90-day trial.
The controversial decision came after eight local businessmen voiced public opposition and Mayor L. E. Stainbrook had asked the project be pigeonholed.
1948: The region had planned no “formal celebration” of Independence Day, which was to fall on a Sunday.
“(R)esidents of the area are expected to devote the long holiday weekend to outings and recreation, since all businesses and offices, except those essential to the health and safety of the community, will be closed,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
Other areas of the state, however, were planning events.
Silver City was hosting a rodeo. Las Vegas was hosting a parade. And Santa Fe was planning a watermelon feed, followed by nighttime fireworks.
1950: George Mendoza was rejoining the Clovis Pioneers, where he batted .305 a year earlier.
“Mendoza has been what one might commonly refer to as a ‘holdout’ this season, since he didn’t sign the contract mailed to him,” Clovis News-Journal Sports Editor Bern Gantner reported.
“However, Mendoza has now consented to join the club and will be located in the outfield in an effort to add strength to this Pioneer department.”
1955: The lights went out at the Redman’s Club west of Texico, the Clovis News-Journal reported, after law officers raided the establishment, seizing about 350 cans of beer, and several cases of whiskey.
Officers said 15 to 20 people, including “a pair of Muleshoe men shooting dice,” were surprised by the interruption.
All but two were allowed to leave after finishing their drinks, officers reported. Those two were charged with sale of alcoholic beverages without a license.
1962: A warning against persons dumping trash “hither and yon around the county” had been issued by the Curry County Commission.
Commissioners said a crackdown on irresponsible trash dumpers would be initiated immediately and said fines up to $100 could be assessed those who dump trash illegally or destroy public property.
Commissioners also said a drive to stop people from shooting road signs full of holes would soon be started.
Commissioner H.B. Moberly said people destroy their own property when they destroy county or state equipment.
1965: The First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Clovis had a new office building under construction at 801 Pile St. “Where thousands save millions,” a newspaper ad trumpeted.
1966: Carmack & Sons, located at 314 Main in Clovis, was offering the following Dollar Day specials:
Bermuda shorts for $2.60 per pair, knit shirts for $2.30 and casual sports hats for $1.
1974: Clovis was preparing to celebrate Independence Day with a “fireworks spectacular” at Leon Williams Stadium.
The football field would also host a concert by the Clovis High School Summer Band, beginning at 8 p.m., with the fireworks to follow.
The stadium continued to host the fireworks show until 1987, when an insurance provider told organizers it would not allow the aerial show to be held so near housing developments.
It moved to Greene Acres Park that year, where it remains.
1975: Lyndell Terry, David Barth, Merle Terry and Thomas Rice, all members of Clovis Evening Lions Club, were preparing to distribute U.S. flags around the city as they did each July 4. The nation was celebrating its 199th birthday.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
