Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Pages past - Nov. 17

On this date ...

1977: The fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students from Zia Elementary in Clovis were decked out in "Star Wars" costumes to present a musical spoof of the Hollywood blockbuster that had opened nationwide in May.

The 225-member cast was set to perform on the stage at Marshall Auditorium.

Student "Star Wars" stars included Steve Marenka as Darth Vade, Wayne Muncrief as Newt Sprywalker, Diane Syrole as Princess Weirda, Shauna Reid as C-3P0, and Ricky Lindenmeyer as R2-D2.

1972: Mississippi Baptist preacher Estus Pirkle, creator and narrator of the recently released film "If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?" was scheduled to spend a week in eastern New Mexico preaching at churches in Clovis, Portales and Texico on his belief that Communists would "take over America within two years."

It was simply "the prophecy of a doomed America," according to Pirkle's quotes in the Clovis News-Journal, confirmed by "the best-selling book in the world - the Holy Bible."

Pages Past is compiled by Betty Williamson. Contact her at:

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