Looking Back 70’s 80’s 90’s
Take One
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
T
he Looking Back special edition takes a look at local history with some wellknown names and faces that have graced the pages of the Valley’s six weekly newspapers.
Many of the people featured in the following pages have continued their work, volunteering and activities and remain valuable members of the community today. Others have since passed away, but their legacy lives large in the Valley. The San Luis Valley has a long and interesting history, and this edition tries to shine a light on the 70s, 80s and 90s. Many things happened during that time and the photographs contained in these pages cannot cover everything, but hopefully they will bring a few smiles. Hairstyles and clothing trends may have changed, but the community involvement that is so clear in these photographs remains strong in the San Luis Valley.
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1970s
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Jim Little from Saguache (shown in center with an arm on aquarium) is pictured with his winning project in the Elementary Division of the 23rd San Luis Valley Science Fair held at Adams State College Feb. 25, 1972. Title of his project was “Effects of Protein on Boyd Brown of South Fork holds the Bud de Sautell Memorial Fish;” other children Trophy that was awarded to him in June of 1976 for his years of entering the contest are pictured. service to the Rio Grande River Raft Races.
Honesty pays for Creede boy… 11-year-old Rowdy Leggitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Leggitt, found a billfold in July 1976 filled with hundreds of dollars and many credit cards and turned it into the sheriff’s office.
Gas prices in March of 1976
Gary Paulson, Del Norte and Jim Pickett, Monte Vista, were delegates to the Colorado Rural Electric Association Youth Congregation at Fort Lewis in Durango during the summer of 1973. The joined delegates from 12 other REA’s in the state for a round of sight-seeing, lectures, special entertainment, group discussions, dances, dinners and banquets. Anita Jo Hunter was named Miss Stampede in 1978.
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1970s
Eight new teachers were hired for the 1976-77 school year in the Creede Consolidated schools. From left: Wade Mortensen, Shelle Chinn, Dan Chinn, Larry Mayfield, John C. Goss, Marge Pate, Roxanne Nawara and Kim Fairchild.
Congratulated for their efforts in apprehending a purse snatcher are Jim Gonzales, second from left, Claude Silva and Gabriel Duran. The boys accepted citations from Mayor Jim Graham in ceremonies at city hall on Aug. 15, 1972. The citations read in part “it is very gratifying to know that citizens such as you live in the community and will lend assistance when it is needed without being asked.” Parents of the boys are Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Gonzales, Mrs. Evelyn Silva and Mrs. Margaret Duran.
Right: Monte Vista Mayor Jim Graham, right, and City Manager Lamont Anderson reflect their pleasure in the $23,440 check received this week from the United States government as Monte Vista’s first payment in the Revenue Sharing Program.
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Page 4 — Looking Back — Wednesday, August 30, 2017
1980s
Texas A & M students climbed off a charter bus after a day at Wolf Creek Ski Area in January 1981. Snow conditions were reported good at intermediate and advance levels
Gene Malouff crowned 1988 Antonito Homecoming Queen Lillian Sanchez during half time activities.
Eric Harer, son of Darlene and Duane Harer of Del Norte, is the lucky first baby of the new year born at Monte Vista Commnity Hospital on Jan. 6, 1983 at 4:52 a.m.
The Pro Scramble, billed as the World Championship raft race, beat down the river in the 22nd annual running of the Rio Grande Raft Races in June 1981 between Creede and South Fork. The races drew big crowds both days.
Conejos County Sheriff Gene DeHerrera talked to La Jara Elementary first graders about the dangers of drugs in October of 1988.
Monte Vista wrestling coach Craig Kelso was inducted into the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame in March 1988. In May 1988, Nora Duran held a photo to remember her son, Leroy Martinez, a Monte Vista youth who was killed in a Vietnam helicopter crash on the same day 18 years prior.
Rex Shepperd of Creede was more than a little proud of the results of his bow hunting in the fall of 1981. He shot a six-point bull elk in the Trout Creek area.
Monte Vista High School football players chosen to represent the school in the Intermountain League Football team in December 1988 were from left: Bob Dutton, Brent Ferkins, Brian Gutierrez, Damen Needham, Bryan Lamb, Boyd Davis and Anthony Guiterrez.
1980s
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Under the watchful eyes of Pat Valdez (front), Monte Vista seventh grade math students Tommy Espinoza (from left), Brian Martinez and Brandon Burnett helped June Johnson from the Colorado State Veterans Center turn an ordinary pumpkin into a work of art during a 1990 class visit.
Jenny Dye and Jennifer Rytting gave a video presentation on a women’s right convention for their history project in 1988.
Three candidates were vying for mayor in Del Norte town elections Center’s Besty Baca celebrated with her family, as the 2.4 million dollar Colorado Instant Lottery winner in March 1985. in 1986, Alberta Foster, Martin Lull and Terry Haynie.
This motor grader went off the edge of the road on Wolf Creek Pass on Monday, Dec. 26, 1988, almost plunging into the south fork of the Rio Grande. Driver Dave Hickey said he must have broken a brake line when the grader was stuck earlier in the day.
1990s
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Tom Sobal and his burro finished up the last two miles of the “Race the Train” pack burro race in Antonito in May 1995. Sobal won the race in a record time of three hours and 50 minutes.
Students and staff from the Emmanuel Christian Academy in South Fork waved to passing National Guard troops passing through town in 1991 on the way to return to their home base in Cortez from Operation Desert Storm.
Titus and Micah Trujillo displayed their Northern Pike caught in Homelake in May 1997 using rapala lures. The largest fish was 38 inches long and they’re guessing it weighted 15-20 pounds. “The amazing part is they were using an eight-pound test line,” said their dad, Jeff Trujillo.
KSLV Radio general manager Gerald Vigil showed the computer that runs the FM station. The station changed its FM format in early July 1990 to provide a wider variety of music.
Jennifer Knoblauch of the Del Norte Middle School was chosen as the teacher of the year for the Del Norte School District in 1990.
Sheriff Desi Medina, April 1990
Parishioners from St. Joseph’s Parish follow the Pilgrimage to the Stations of the Cross at San Luis on Sunday, March 26, 1995 in union with Father Rudy Breunig as they commemorate the “Passion and the Death” of Jesus Christ upon his cross and Calvary. Though the day was dreary and gloomy, the spirit of the people held up against the darkness of the sky.
Stacy Silva, a senior at Del Norte High School, received the banner of office from Dr. Gary Peer, acting president of Adams State, Saturday, when she was crowned 1993 Spud Bowl Queen in November. Karen Graves of Moffat High School (left), the 1992 queen awaits to place the tiara on her head. Monte Vista candidate Kyla Flutcher (right) looks on.
Randi DePriest had a laugh at the expense of her dad, Dick, during a pieeating contest at Creede’s Pioneer Night at Creede High School in February 1996.
1990s
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Robin and Charlotte Crites were selected as Monte Vista Rotary Citizens of the Month for March 1990. Both are known Valleywide for their musical and acting abilities and their devotion to the performing arts, and both have been active in civic causes.
Center Fire Department’s Tony Lobato helped freshman Anthony Gonzales don his fireman’s gear during the Career Day at Center High School in the fall of 1988.
Alice Lenich worked with two Percheron horses, Jim and Dolly, at the Spruce Lodge in South Fork in late December 1990. Alice and Frank Lenich teamed up with Jim Courts to offer sleigh rides in South Fork. Painter Stephen Quiller demonstrated a painting to his class in 1998.
Crazy Will, aka Will Prator, comforted two-year-old Carlos of Antonito after the youngster thought Crazy Will was really shot and killed during a re-enactment of an 1878 gunfight. The pretend gunfight was a part of the 1995 Memorial Day festivities.
From left to right are Bobby Marquez, Tomina Tucker, Lisa Milner and Elisa Valdez. The four were named “Students of the Month” for November 1994. Marquez, freshman, is the son of Robert and Gloria Marquez; he plans to attend Adams State College. Tucker is a sophomore; she is the daughter of Clinton and Sybil Tucker and hopes to attend BYU. Milner, a senior, is the daughter of Mary Milner and Tom Milner. She plans to study nursing in college. Valdez, a junior, is the daughter of Felix and Catherin Valdez. She plans to attend Colorado State University and would like to be a doctor. In January Middle 1990 Tracy school Vanderpool instudent Sarah spected potaSparks toes, checking tugged size at Canon the fire Potato Co. He h o s e not only had to during make sure the the Monsize is correct, te Vista but that the Fire Depotatoes meet partment’s presentation at Career Day at the middle all the current school in March 1996. Volunteer firemen allowed the regulations students to try on the gear and carry the hose to get needed to be a taste of what it would be like to fight fires. shipped.
1980s
1970s
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Rotary District Governor Ed Gaither, second from right, and his wife Rose, left are shown with president of the local club, Bill Skains and his wife Naomi in September 1972. The event was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Rominger, marking the first official visit of Gaither’s to the Monte Vista Rotary.
1990s
The Chapel of the South Fork held a groundbreaking ceremony near the Rio Grande on April 14, 1991. Over 40 charter members, members and friends of the church gathered in a field to celebrate, each taking a turn with the shovel. Finally, the Rev. Michael Owens and his family took a turn with the spade.
Workmen spent a few days in December 1995 dismantling the old bridge in South Fork along Colorado 149, just north of the “Y.” The new bridge to the west is considered by the Colorado Department of Transportation to be safer for motorists.
The Colorado Endowment for the Humanities honored Ruth Marie Colville of Del Norte with the 1988 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Humanities. The award was presented in recognition of Mrs. Colville’s lifelong dedication to researching and preserving the history of southern Colorado.
Charred remains of a fire-gutted cabin stood in the old Rio Quintana community near the Colorado 149 bridge in South Fork in April 1991. Nearby cabins owned by George DuBois were saved by the South Fork and Del Norte volunteer fire departments, despite gusting winds.