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.