1909-This school produced state champion teams in tennis and fencing!
1947-A future first lady of New Mexico, Miss Katherine Burns of Clovis, attended the New Mexico Normal School in 1910. She later became Mrs. Thomas Mabry. Silver City Daily Press, May 24, 1947
Students who lived within the boundaries of New Mexico and promised to teach in the state following graduation, were given free passes on the "Atchinson, Topeka, and the Santa Fe Railroad."
July 14, 1930-STC Rodeo Princess Miss Rae Royal was named Annual Rodeo Queen.
1948-The World Student Service Fund, and organization of students and professionals at STC, joined eighteen contributing nations in assisting students and professors in war devastated countries.
Janglook Hill, class of 1959, now owner of the ghost town Shakespeare and cattle rancher, remembers the late Harriet Smith "read French literature to her Spanish class. The experience gave me a lasting taste for Voltaire."
WNMU has the fastest mailman in New Mexico! Campus courier Lloyd Burson came to Western in 1961 to be a member of Coach Jim Fox's track team. Known for his "Speedy Deliveries," Burson practiced his sprinting while delivering mail throughout the campus.
Viswanathan Ramakwamy, a graduate student at WNMU, was selected as the outstanding member of the International club. Viswanathan came to Western from Bombay India.
Seventy students form Los Estudiantes Unidos, a Spanish Club chartered in 1971 at Western, participated in a Candlelight Vigil at the administration building. The purpose of the demonstration was "to press for bilingual education."
Anna Davis was named outstanding housemother 1944-58 by the alumni. Thought of by many as a "financial gadfly" because she was always asking for improvements and decorations for the dorm, Mrs. Davis was admired by all the Ritch Hall coeds.
Dr. Frank Juszczyk, know around campus as 'that fool in the library" in response to the social instability of the time, stood by the Peace Warrior as a court jester. He reminded students that " in society beset by political and administrative turmoil a Great Fool usually appears. In a society of fools," he maintained, "the one who finally accepts his foolishness publicly, gets the edge on wisdom."
Dr. Bruce Hayward, known to WNMU students and alumni as "the eccentric Batman," was the recipient of the 1983 New Mexico Nature Conservancy's Leopold Conservation Award. This award is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the cause of conservation in New Mexico.
WNMU faculty members Bruce Hayward, Jean Peterson, Bob Miller, and Larry Kappel joined a cast of students to present Oedipus the King, November 16-18, 1984, in Chase Webb Theater. The cast blended together within the traditional cadence of Greek Drama.
The 1958 fall semester closed with the first winter commencement on December 20!
Thirteen WNMU students attended the thirty-sixth annual Phelps Dodge Scholarship tour in 1988. The Phelps Dodge program was started in 1951.
Mr. Jose Jaurequi, known as "Sejo,"
a WNMU employee in the maintenance department, exhibited 64 pieces of his art
work in the 1992 New Mexico Directory of Hispanic Culture. In addition,
his work was also included in the Fourth Annual Fiesta de Colores in Albuquerque.
Jaurequi has taken sculpture classes at WNMU under the direction of Cecil Howard.
His art work includes wood carvings, paintings, glass etching, and sand painting.