Pages past — Oct. 3

On this date ...

1983: Katherine Davalos Ortega, a 1957 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, was sworn in as U.S. treasurer.

“Being treasurer gives one a certain immortality, because it’s the treasurer’s name which appears on all new paper currency,” President Ronald Reagan said.

“I can’t think of a better name to have on our money than Katherine Ortega.”

link1967: Woody Guthrie, a one-time Texas Panhandle resident and an inspiration for songwriters Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger and many others, died from complications related to Huntington’s disease.

He was 55.

His best-known song, “This Land is Your Land,” has at least six verses, most of them not included in elementary school music classes.

One such verse:

“Was a high wall there that tried to stop me

“A sign was painted said: Private Property,

“But on the back side it didn’t say nothing —

“This land was made for you and me.”

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. For more regional history, check out his weblog at:

http://www.highplainsyesterdays.com