Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Pages past - March 20

On this date ...

1988: High Plains animal lovers staged a protest at Clovis' Hillcrest Zoo in defense of Sonny, a rambunctious elephant who had been threatened with euthanasia because of destructive behavior at the zoo and the zoo's inability to find a place to rehome him.

A group of 25-30 people, including District Attorney Les Williams, marched with picket signs, and organizers were circulating petitions on Sonny's behalf to present to the Clovis city commission.

Sonny eventually found a new home at the Popcorn Park Zoo and Animal Shelter in New Jersey where he was transported with money raised by Clovis citizens. He died there in 2001.

1983: Eastern New Mexico University President Warren Armstrong was named president of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, after a 7 1/2-year run leading ENMU, with the change to take place July 1.

Armstrong was the sixth president of ENMU. Prior to serving as Eastern's head administrator, Armstrong was the dean of the college of liberal arts and a history professor for five years at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Buck Wilson, president of the board of regents, announced that the regents would act quickly to find Armstrong's successor. Eastern hired within for its seventh president, selecting Robert L. Matheny, who served for the next eight years.

Pages Past is compiled by Betty Williamson. Contact her at: [email protected]

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