Pages of the Past

On this day of Oct. 16, 1974:

Tucumcari voters rejected a bid to recall Mayor James Saltz and two city commissioners from office over their controversial annexation decision.

About 55% of the city’s voters cast their ballots against recalling Saltz and the commissioners, according to unofficial results.

Residents had gathered 600 signatures for the recall petition after they voted to annex the land, setting up a decision by Judge Stanley Frost to call for the election.

On a related note, voters also rejected an annexation of 110 acres south of the city. About 57% of the voters cast a ballot against the annexation.

— Rebecca Upton, 59, died in house fire at 1901 S. Ninth St. in Tucumcari. Firefighters believed a television set started the blaze. Upton had been a schoolteacher in San Jon, Grady, House and Tucumcari.

— Gubernatorial candidate Virgil Rhodes and U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici dropped by the Tucumcari News office after landing at the municipal airport during a campaign stop.

— The Center Street United Methodist Church was planning its 29th annual enchilada dinner. Tickets were $1.50 for adults and $1 for children, with “all kinds of goodies.”

— In an advertisement, Mobaphone of New Mexico promoted a way to “call from your car to any telephone.”