From the editor's desk: At least one woman sheriff in New Mexico history

Jack Levick, executive director of the New Mexico Sheriffs’ Association, says his research has found no woman has ever been elected sheriff in the state.

That could change this year with females in De Baca and Taos counties on Democratic ballots today.

But New Mexico has had at least one woman sheriff in its history. Her picture is on a wall with her counterparts at the Curry County Sheriff’s Office.link Staff photo

Linnie Thomas was Curry County sheriff from April 11, 1938, until Jan. 1, 1939.

Linnie Thomas was sworn in as Curry County sheriff on April 11, 1938, the day after her husband died from a “lingering illness,” according to the Clovis News-Journal.

She fulfilled the remainder of her husband’s sheriff term, until January 1939, when W.H. Collins began the first of his two terms.

Newspaper reports show Linnie Thomas was involved in at least two criminal cases in her eight months on the job — an accused hot check writer and the theft of 25 lambs from a ranch south of Grier.

The lambs could be identified, Thomas reported, by a letter “m” painted with green paint on each lamb.

Something to do: Fish beware. Saturday is National Free Fishing Day, meaning no one needs a license or a stamp to catch a whopper on public waters.

For information, call 505-476-8095.

Looking back: On this date in 1941, the Portales Daily News reported that Will Bates, of Pep, had become a father — for the 19th time.

Lloyd Travis Bates was the most recent addition to the family, born May 26.

The Editor’s Desk is compiled by Clovis News Journal Editor David Stevens. Contact him at:

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