VFW holds first Texas Hold 'em Poker Run

Clarence Plank

Local veterans participated Saturday in the first Texas Hold ‘em Poker Run at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9515 in Portales.

Thirty-one riders participated in the 130-mile trip taking riders to Muleshoe, Clovis and Melrose.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Charles Eaton, commander of Post No. 9515, said proceeds are given to the VFW National Home for Children and local vets and their families.

“The object of the run is to have fun,” Eaton said. “They select a card and a person at that location will initial a block that represents that card and they will do that at each of the stops. We did a little extra and we let them do three of them. That gives them the opportunity to throw one away.”

The riders follow a set course which takes them to the old VFW site in Muleshoe, VFW Ledbetter-McReynolds Post 3015 in Clovis, the Melrose truck stop in Melrose and then to VFW Post No. 9515 in Portales.

The winning hand receives a $100 Visa card provided by the Cannon Federal Credit Union and the lowest losing hand receives a $50 Mastercard provided by Hamilton Ford.

Riders were treated to a spaghetti dinner made by the Ladies Auxiliary from the post and door prizes.

Mike Williams of Clovis won the poker run.

“It was a fun ride,” Williams said. “It was the cherry on top of my gravy and potatoes. It’s all about the ride and the camaraderie that we build here.”

Master Sgt. Clay LeMaire with the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base said he met up with the group at Post 3015 and rode with them.

“I came into it half way because I was doing some work..in Clovis,” LeMaire said. “After I was finished, I hooked up with Phil Dover. It’s all about the children that’s why I’m here. I’m doing it for charity.”