Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date …
1957: Hazel Stone, head of the linens department at Clovis’ C.R. Anthony’s, had been “buying and planning for a wonderful array of practical gifts for your gift shopping.”
Chenille bedspreads were $4.99. Quaker lace table cloths ranged from $16.90 to $3.98. Orlon blankets were $10.99.
1961: An ice storm hit much of eastern New Mexico, leaving many rural residents without power for two days.
Crews from Farmers Electric were working all hours to restore service to Fort Sumner and multiple farm homes, the Clovis News-Journal reported.
Mountain States reported seven telephone poles were down west of Melrose and officials said long-distance calls were limited to emergencies.
The Clovis newspaper was without teletype service most of the day, but had “obtained all important national and state news” during a telephone conversation with staffers at the Albuquerque office of United Press International.
1962: Four Portales Rams football players had been named to the United Press International’s all-state football team.
Halfback Larry Ward, guard Otha Britton, end Jim Webb and center Bill Schumpert, all seniors, were selected to the Class A elite squad.
The four led the Rams to second place in District 4A.
Ward, a 165-pound tailback, rushed for 905 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, despite missing a game with injuries.
1964: Skibells, located at 520 Main St. in Clovis, had announced it was going out of business.
The clothing store reported “Every item must be sold regardless of its cost or former selling price.”
Men’s hats were $1.
Mink trim coats were $54.40.
Levis were $2.93.
Cotton dresses were $5.
1965: Pat Murphy scored 20 points to lead Clovis past Lovington, 79-75, in high school basketball action. The win left Clovis 2-2 for the season.
1966: Olympic pole-vaulter Bob Richards had been guest speaker for the Clovis Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet.
“There isn’t a person that doesn’t have stirrings to be a champion within them,” Richards told the crowd of about 500.
Richards represented the United States as a pole vaulter in three Olympic Games — 1948, 1952 and 1956.
His likeness was on the front of Wheaties boxes in 1958, and he also became a spokesman for Wheaties.
In 1984, he made an unsuccessful run for president, representing the Populist Party.
1969: The Clovis city commission, by a 3-2 vote, prohibited liquor establishments north of 13th Street.
Mayor Chick Taylor broke a tie with his vote.
Commissioner Richard Rowley opposed the measure because he said it would concentrate all liquor establishments in a relatively small area of town.
1972: The Egyptian Health and Beauty Spa at 1121 Thornton St. in Clovis offered to help those with flabby upper arms, double chins and bulging hips and thighs.
Thirty visits cost $30 and the business guaranteed a 15-pound weight loss in 90 days.
1975: Two Clovis men, one man from Portales and three California residents were in police custody and authorities believed they’d solved a series of multi-state auto thefts.
FBI agents on Dec. 10 recovered a 1975 Thunderbird in Clovis and a 1974 Lincoln Mark IV and a 1975 Lincoln Mark IV in Portales in connection with the thefts.
At least two other cars had been reported stolen in the area in the same week and authorities said their investigation was reaching into Arizona and California.
1990: The Hilltop Twin movie theater in Clovis was showing “Home Alone” and “Predator II.”
Tuesdays were “bargain nights” with $2 admission.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
