Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1976: A flight instructor and student pilot had died in a plane crash south of Texico.
It wasn’t immediately clear when the plane had crashed. Jackie Roberts, a farmer, found it while working on his irrigation system.
The bodies of Ben Smithson, 31, of Clovis, and James Parker, 31, of Farwell, were found inside the plane.
The Clovis News-Journal reported Smithson was the flight instructor. Officials believed Parker had control of the plane and was attempting a turn when it went down, said Medical Investigator Joe Thomas.
1971: Clovis police had acquired a new van it dubbed a “paddy wagon.”
The van was purchased with city funds matching a federal grant.
Police Chief Ken Kingsbury said the wagon gave police “the potential of mass arrests.”
1971: President Nixon declared the day “National Day of Prayer” and asked special emphasis be focused on American prisoners of war in Southeast Asia.
Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. For more regional history, check out his weblog at:
www.highplainsyesterdays.com
