March 1968

The Tucumcari chapter of the Future Farmers of America held a barbecue dinner to raise $1,200 to help with the parent/son banquet held in April and to help with the cost of attending the state judging and state convention in Las Cruces. The chapter cooked 1,200 pounds of meat in a pit fire.

Victor Eulogio Montano of Tucumcari was a senior petty officer in charge in the U.S. Navy when he received a commendation from Army Maj. General John T. Honeycutt for his outstanding performance of duties of providing essential logistics support to U.S. combat forces in Danang, Vietnam. Montano was promoted to the rank of Boatswain’s Mate First Class.

Nona Mae Dabu was honored as teacher of the week. She was presented a pen and pencil set by Homer Hangrove, owner of Hangrove Jewelry. She was a pre-first grade teacher at the Zia school and has been teaching in Tucumcari for 11 years.

The Navy’s Hydrofoil boat built by Boeing, the USS Tucumcari went through its final test runs before being considered for active use by the Navy. The USS Tucumcari would be the forerunner of a new class of swift gunboat.