Tales from the Morgue

1956: El Pasoan With Amazing Memory Wants Chance At $64,000 Question

June 26, 1956

Some people don’t know what all of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution are. Other people have read them. Some have studied them. Mrs. C.H. Suits memorized them.

And while she was at it, she memorized the Constitution, word for word.

Why? “Because it is worthwhile knowing.” The remarkable resident of 608 Pueblo Road, whose mind resembles a camera, said. “You have a better comprehension of anything if it is in your memory.”

In that case, her comprehension of Eisenhower’s Inaugural Address and Prayer, the Gettysburg Address and the Mayflower Compact is excellent.

For three hours and 42 minutes – without interuption – Mrs. Suits can recite poetry, American historical documents, and Biblical chapters.

On Easter, to the Gowan Jones Sunday School class at Trinity Methodist Church, she repeated the last three chapters of Matthew, which relate Peter’s denial of Christ, the trial, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

For the Fourth of July, the likely contestant for the $64,000 Question can recite the Declaration of Independence from memory along with the constitution and its amendments.

Or, for novelty, she will give all of the states of the Union and their capitols – in one minute!

LENGTH VARIES

A vivacious woman, Mrs. Suits has a memorized reservoir of 40 pieces, ranging in recitation lengths from one to 25 minutes.

“Calling upon it sometimes saves my time and my temper,” she said with a wink, explaining. “When I’m in a hurry to leave, and my husband is taking too long to dress, I just recite a little piece about patience.”

On a bus corner, at a store counter or drying dishes, memorizing is the best way “to keep your mind from wasting time,” Mrs. Suits testified.

Although acknowledging that she can often picture the printed verse or page in her mind, the former Alpine, Texas, resident years ago, does not believe that people are born with a “photographic memory.”

“It is something that has to be developed, primarily because you want to retain a thought. It calls for concentration and imagination – imagining how the completely memorized piece will enrich you personally,” she explained.

A book, propped up on the kitchen sink, on the other side of the washing machine, or slipped into her purse, is the key to her voluminous memorization.

The material – historical documents – is the key to her patriotism.

“Appreciating your country isn’t just for wartime or the Fourth of July. Reading our best manuscripts gives me a better understanding of this country,” Mrs. Suits explains.

The El Pasoan has read over 100 documents and tests on American history. She recalls dates with amazing rapidity. Recently, when her mother read the 960 questions in the American History Quiz Book by Edward Boyle, she answered 800.

Mrs. Suits plans to apply to the $64,000 Question program in the American history category.

1945: Old Friends to Greet Gen. Jonathan M.Wainwright

December 13, 1945

Bataan Hero Brigade Commander at Bliss in 1939

Civilian and military friends of Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright, who knew him at Ft. Bliss in pre-war days, will be among those to welcome the hero of Bataan and Corregidor in El Paso tonight.

Maj. Gen. Terry Allen now in El Paso, has known General Wainwright ever since they were boys at Ft. Sheridan, Ill., where their fathers were stationed. The future General Wainwright was finishing high school while young Allen was completing grammar school.

General Allen last saw General Wainwright at Ft. Bliss, shortly before the latter’s departure for the Philippines in September of 1940.

At Bliss in 1939

In the winter of 1939 General Wainwright spent several months at Bliss as commander of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Calvary Division. His brigade came here from Ft. Clark.

Ed Heid remembers having attended a party at Ft. Bliss about two weeks before General Wainwright started for the Philippines. “I talked to him for nearly two hours, and though I don’t remember what was said, I’m sure it wasn’t about the chance of war with Japan, Mr. Heid said.

General Wainwright was known universally, at least behind his back, as “Skinny.” He was tall and wiry and tough, a typical cavalryman.

Everybody Liked Skinny

Col. And Mrs. G.C. Mudgett of Cumberland street are longtime friends of General Wainwright, and were at Ft. Bliss with the latter in 1939. “Everybody liked Skinny,” said Mrs. Mudgett. “We were at Ft. Riley together for several years. He was master of hounds there, and was always interested in horses and riding.”

Maj. R.K. McMaster of the El Paso High school ROTC was station at Ft. Meyer, Va., in 1939 when General Wainwright was commandant there.

Mrs. William C. Chase of El Paso, wife of the present commander of the 1st Cavalry division now in Japan, became acquainted with the Wainwrights at Ft. Riley about 1935. “They were very pleasant friends,” she recalled.

Express No Anxiety

Numerous officers and enlisted men now at Ft. Bliss remember General Wainwright from his tour of duty or visits at that post.

Friends said that when he left for the Philippines he expressed no anxiety about the war situation, and expected to return to peaceful retirement after duty in the islands. Instead he was chosen to lead the last-ditch resistance of American forces in the Philippines which resulted in the surrender of Corregido to the Japs on May 6, 1942.

He was release from a Japanese prison camp with the surrender of Japan last summer.

Decorated in War I

General Wainwright was born in Walla Walla, Wash., in 1883. He was graduated from West Point, where he acquired the nickname of Skinny, in 1906, and became a second lieutenant in the cavalry.

He served in the Philippines in 1908-10, and helped guard the Mexican border in 1914. In World War I he took part in the St. Mihiel and Argonne offensives, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal as assistant chief of staff of the 82nd Division and later as assistant chief of staff with occupation forces in Germany.

Coverage of parade

Photos of Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright

1947: City Plans To Annex Beaumont Hospital, Logan Heights Areas

October 9, 1947

El Paso city limits may be pushed further north along the eastern slope of Mount Franklin to make ready for anticipated major urban development in the area, Mayor Dan Ponder said Wednesday.

City Council may be ready Thursday to serve notice of intention to annex the area including William Beaumont General Hospital, Logan Heights Addition as far north as the eastern edge of military facilities in the area, Valdespino Golf Course, and Water Works Department properties north of Fort Bliss.

City Engineer’s Office Wednesday was working on metes area bounds description of the area proposed for the latest advance of the corporate limits. Mayor Ponder said the official notice of intention to annex the area is expected to be ready for council consideration Thursday.

Some major residential subdivision developments are planned for the area north of Beaumont Hospital, according to City Hall reports. Fort Bliss and Beaumont Hospital officials have indicated strong interest in projected residential development of the area near the hospital to provide living accommodations for families of patients and Civil Service employes in the hospital and army post, it was reported.

ANNEXATION NECESSARY TO PROVIDE UTILITIES

Extension of the city limits necessary to provide water and sewer facilities for residential development of the area, it was pointed out.

Council recently adopted a policy against extension of city utility service to areas outside the corporation, necessitating an advance of the corporate limits to make necessary utilities available for the area, Mayor Ponder said.

Proposed new advance of the city limits will begin where the recent Morningside Heights Addition annexation halted and swing wide from the Mount Franklin foothills area to beyond the railroad tracks in the old Municipal Airport area.

Western edge of the proposed extension will be the alley between Merchant and McConnell streets in Hollywood Heights Addition with the north line of the new area reaching Evelyn avenue, bordering the Logan heights encampment area north of Newman Road. East of the Newman Road, the proposed new city limit will run around Valdespino Golf Course, jump the railroad tracks to take in the Waterworks Department properties north of Wilson Road and return to the Wilson Road grade crossing before swinging southwesterly to rejoin the corporate body near the Sierra Vista Addition, site of the veterans’ housing area. Sierra Vista was taken into the city along with Morningside Heights Addition a few weeks ago.

1952: Mayor Sets Civic Center Location

October 7, 1952

El Paso’s new civic center, to include a City Hall, jail, police station, health unit and other municipal offices, will be located in the block east of the County Building, Mayor Fred Hervey announced Monday in his monthly radio report.

The City has taken steps to acquire the square-block site, and an appraisal is being made by a committee from the Real Estate Board. When that appraisal is ready, the mayor said, the City will attempt to purchase the property. If no agreement can be reached, condemnation proceedings will be started.

The property will be bought for cash, from an accumulated surplus the mayor said will read $1,000,000 early next year. First project to be built will replace “our present ancient and disgraceful police department and jail buildings,” with ground-breaking to begin “in the very near future”

PLAN PARK EXPANSION

An expansion of the new Frontera Park also is planned, the mayor said, the City having called for an appraisal of the tenement block directly east of the park where a new swimming pool is to be built. The pool will leave little room for trees and grass, the mayor said, and the new block will serve the double purpose of adding park and removing unsightly tenements.

A third major project announced in the report is a new swimming pool for Grandview Park. The mayor said the pool will be guilt and “we hope it will be ready by the start of the swimming season.”

Turning to the lawsuit filed against the City last week by El Paso county Water Improvement District No. 1, the mayor said “We welcome the suit. It is timely and should settle for all time the rights of the City and other users in the Rio Grande, the obligation of the Water District to maintain the canal bridges and other problems that have raised a barrier between the city and the valley farmers who should work in complete harmony to increase the prosperity of our valley.”

OPERATE UNDER BUDGET

In his financial accounting, the mayor said the City probably will operate about $50,000 under its budget for the current fiscal year and promised a complete financial report at the end of the present City Council’s term of office next April.

For the first time in the City’s recent history, it will not spend a cent of interest in bank loans to carry operations through year’s end until new taxes are collected Mayor Hervey announced.

This will be possible, he said, largely through early payment of $214,000 in taxes by El Paso Electric Co., at a saving of $5000 in interest charges, as against a 1951 overdraft of $499,000.

The mayor hit at national corporations doing business here for their reluctance to produce books and records for review by the Board of equalization.

“Most of the home town companies were trying to be fair and our biggest problem was with national firms who refused to produce books to help us with our job,” the mayor said. “In those cases we have fixed assessments at what we reasonably believed were right. They will stay at the figure until the out-of-town firms are ready and willing to produce their books and records to show where we are wrong.”

The mayor continued his drive for equal tax valuations between City and County and to force the County to spend a bigger share of its revenue inside the city limits. He also called for a city-county assessing system.

“I say it is inexcusable that the city and county should maintain two assessing offices,” he said. “There should be a single joint operation, not only for economy, but to provide countywide equal treatment for all taxpayers. And I say that we should have a professional survey of the entire county to assure spreading the necessary tax burden as evenly as possible.”

Mayor Hervey called for the giving of a free hand to the Charter Commission.

“After the charter is written, all of you will have a chance to study and analyze it before going to the polls to vote on it,” he said, calling for full moral support during the writing job

1952: Kiwanis Manager Signs Up Ace Hurler For Charity Tilt

May 28, 1952

Kiwanians Monday had Rotarians in a dizzy dither and somewhat dejected, Dr. D.L. Cady, the team’s physician, was giving each member an extra shot of vitamins and strong pep talks.

There was good reason for all this. With the 29th annual Kiwanis-Rotary ball game to be played at 8 p.m. Wednesday on Dudley Field for benefit of The Times Milk Fund, only hours away, W.T. (Mike) Misenhimer, Kiwanis manager, sneaked out and signed up the best player in these parts.

He was James R. (Jim) Paternoster, who came here in 1947 and, from that year to 1952, had pitched 20 no-hitters. He started the 1952 season with two no-hitters and so far, this year, has won 11 out of 12 games.

Paternoster hurled for Rugel Motors in 1947-48-49-50 and the aggregation ended each of those years with the championship pennant.

In 1951, Rugel did not sponsor a team, so Paternoster joined the Fabens Texaco squad, won the state championship and went with his teammates to the world series in Greeley, Colo. Paternoster pulled a muscle in his arm, the reason Fabens finished eight in that nationwide contest.

When Paternoster was attending the University of Michigan, he was the ace screwball and knuckle ball wizard for the Wolverines. Fact is, Paternoster went to Michigan on a baseball scholarship – he was that good. He played basketball for Texas Western College, there being no baseball team.

Paternoster was in the Army when he landed at Fort Bliss and before he was mustered out in 1947, he played baseball, basketball and football with service teams.

After all is said and done, this 1952 rotary club is “hot.” Sparked by Brooks Travis, catcher, who hit five for five and R. Truett Maddox, with four for four, rotary Sunday swamped the vaunted times-Herald-Post team by a score of 18 to 8. Ramsey, who did not extend himself, was the winning pitcher. Walt Finley, of the Herald-Post was the losing pitcher. Bill Hooten of the times got a single, double and triple, the three times he was up to bat, but even that did not help the newspaper boys. Baltazar Alvarez, of the times, smashed out a double but when the score was totaled up, even that went for naught.

“My money is on rotary to defeat Kiwanis,” Alvarez said.

1953: Mr., Mrs. John J. O'Connor Return From Honeymoon

January 15, 1953

Mr. and Mrs. John Jay O’Connor wIII arrived in El Paso Wednesday after spending their honeymoon in Mexico City and Acapulco. The couple’s wedding was solemnized recently in the home of the bride’s parents, the Lazy B Ranch, near Lordsburg. The bride is the former Sandra Day, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Day, and the granddaughter of Mrs. W.W. Wilkie of El Paso. The bridegroom’s parents are Dr. and Mrs. J.J. O’Connor of San Francisco.

The Rev. William G. Wright of El Paso read the vows before the improvised altar at the fireplace which was decorated with evergreen boughs, masses of poinsettias and burning tapers in a tall candelabra.

Anita Palm, daughter of Mrs. Schott Wilkie and Lynn Yoakum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.B. Yoakum, Jr. of Pasadena, Calif. Held the ribbon streamers that formed the aisle.

The beautiful bride, given in marriage by her father, wore an original waltz-length gown of white tulle fashioned with fitted bodice and multi-pleated bouffant skirt. Her shoulder-length veil of French illusion fell from a coronet of pleated tulle with pearl trim. She carried a colonial bouquet of camellias, with twisted loops of velvet ribbon.

Miss Ann Day, sister of the bride and Miss Diane O’Connor, sister of the bridegroom, were the bride’s attendants. They wore white waltz-length gowns designed like the bride’s and carried bouquets of red camellias.

Dr. O’Connor attended his son as best man. Alan Day, brother of the bride, was usher.

Mrs. Day chose for her daughter’s wedding a poudre blue Howard Greer frock with bodice embroidered with bugle beads. Her accessories harmonized with her costume and her corsage was of camellias.

Mrs. O’Connor wore a navy taffeta dress with pink accessories. Her corsage was of pink camellias.

Immediately following the ceremony a reception was held in the ranch house which was festively decorated with a Christmas tree, garlands of juniper, pine boughs and poinsettias.

A buffet super was served and the couple’s happiness was toasted in champagne and sparkling burgundy. An orchestra provided music for dancing.

Assisting at the reception were Miss Beatrice Challis, Mrs. Wilkie, Mrs. W.A. Adams and Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilkie.

El Pasoans who attended the wedding were Dr. and Mrs. Delphin von Briesen, Mrs. Gates Davis, Mrs. Jack Hill and daughter, Hondy; Mr. and Mrs. John D. Williams, Gen. And Mrs. J.M. Thompson, and Mrs. J. M. Thompson, and Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Adams.

1955: Extradition Of Bandit Not Expected

July 12, 1955

Sheriff Frank Romero in Las Cruces, N.M., said Monday he would not attempt to extradite a 20-year-old Juarez bandit who has been identified as one of the three who robbed two El Paso families on Mt. Cristo Rey Saturday.

The statement by the Dona Ana County sheriff seemed to knock the sails from the seeming victory gained when Juarez police arrested the man. Romero said he planned to ask the district attorney, but it seemed unlikely that extradition proceedings would be successful in the case.

Lorenzo (Lenchillo) Vasquez, 20, was held in the Juarez jail after his capture Sunday by Detective Chief Ocatavio Vargas. Two confederates of Vasquez remained at large, but Vargas discounted their importance.

“We have captured the head of the snake,” he said Monday, “Vasquez is the guy who was really the poison of the three.”

“He has plenty of guts,” he added.

Vargas said Vasquez probably would be tried in a Mexican federal court for having committed the robberies in the United States. Mexican law permits such procedure.

Romero and a deputy Sunday night took Mrs. Josefina Pineda, her son Joe, 19, and her daughter, all of 4130 Bliss St., to Juarez to view Vasquez, whom they identified as the robber who took a watch, $29 and a shirt from Joe Pineda Saturday.

Vargas said Vasquez had confessed to a number of other robberies on the mountain this year.

He said Vasquez also implicated two companions, Epifanio Aguilar, 18, and Jesus Gaona, 17, both also of Juarez.

Romero said Monday news of the capture was kept quiet Sunday night in hopes Gaona and Aguilar might be captured before they learned Vasquez had been arrested for the Cristo Rey robberies.

1953: Wingo Tells Realtors City Needs

October 13, 1953

Stabilizing the central downtown business district and maintaining its taxable values in face of a growing decentralization program is one of the most important and pressing problems to be solved, Lowdon Wingo Jr., City plan engineer, Monday told members of the El Paso Board of Realtors in Hilton Hotel.

Philadelphia was preparing to spend $100 million to preserve its central business section and Nashville, Tenn., already had spent considerable sums to achieve a similar result, Wingo said. He mentioned that such a program could become extremely costly.

Using as a basis the tremendous growth and expansion of El Paso, Wingo said the population of the City by 1960 should be 175,000 and the total for the County, 260,000.

“We can use that figure to begin our planning work now,” Wingo said.

Wingo said city planning involved a problem dealing with all aspects of growth and changes. He said a good City planner was a better guesser.

“If cities did not grow we would not have nay problems,” he said.

PLAN FOR GROWTH

Wingo said comprehensive plans for a city should proved for its growth to be orderly and mannerly. He indicated such had not been true in El Paso’s case, but this was to be remedied and corrected by master plans being worked out. One such completed plan was the projected future highway program set up by El Paso’s Highway Coordinating Committee, he said.

Illustrating the growth of the City, Wingo said the population in 1940 was about 97,000 and in 1052 was 149,000. In 1940, he said there was 149,000. In 1940, he said thee were 31,000 vehicles traveling the streets and contrasted to that, there were 75,000 this year. Wingo said a master plan to handle the increasing vehicular traffic on the streets was being formulated.

Back in 1940, Wingo said the assessed property valuation was something like $75 million and this figure was expected to be $203 million this year. City limits in 1940 encompassed 13.6 square miles and now this was 41.75, he said.

Wingo said programs were being set up that could be carried out over a period of years through coordination of city and County governments, the latter now having a planning board, and the industrial development group.

NEED FOR PARKS

He said the programs included elimination of blighted areas in the south side of the City and added that much had been accomplished in the latter field through paving of alleys and razing shacks. Provisions would have to be made for parks and recreational facilities, particularly in subdivisions which had sprung up without these. Neighborhood parks had been passed up in favor of other projects, he said.

Wingo said another problem was knowing when and where to place new fire stations.

He mentioned there had been a city plan for El Paso since 1925 and most of the credit for many things that had been done under it was due Walter Stockwell, who recently retired as City plan engineer.

What could be done in the way of carrying out City planning depended on the amount of available resources, he said.

“Every plan we have must be tailored to the resources we have,” he said.

Wingo said the new order of things would call for a greater participation on the part of citizens and increased co-ordination of all City and County agencies.

Stressing the necessity for greater carrying capacities of City streets and highways, Wingo said Paisano Drive reached its limit one month after its opening.

1953: Color Day Planned For Schools

March 26, 1953

School children will go to classes April 25 all decked out in the colors of their schools. Most schools will plan a special observance of the day.

Dr. Mortimer Brown, superintendent of schools, Tuesday issued a proclamation setting the date of the annual event, “when all pupils, teachers, school employes and others may show their colors and thereby their justifiable pride in their school and their devoted loyalty to it.”

The custom of Color Day has been observed for over 25 years in the public schools.

In his proclamation, Dr. Brown said:

“The little one-room adobe schoolhouse, located in 1883 on San Antonio Street, across from the present County Courthouse, which was taught by Mr. McKay and furnished with a table, a few chairs, and a switch, was the symbol of public education in El Paso 70 years ago. This little one-room adobe schoolhouse has expanded into a network of 24 elementary schools and six high schools.

“As we review our blessings and accomplishments, we view with satisfaction the progress which has been made in education in El Paso, and realize that it has been a great co-operative venture. We like to believed that through the joint co-operation of all forces serving the youth of El Paso – church leadership, home and school partnership, and legislation – opportunities afforded our children here for a sound basic education are not excelled anywhere. If we are justified in this conclusion, it is only because our citizens have shown a personal interest in education and because public-spirited men and women have been willing to devote heir lives to the teaching of our youth.

“Regardless of any possible short-comings, our schools, pupils, teachers, and patrons are our finest asset and make us among the best.

1959: Bean Backs Curfew, Asks Apology From Mascarenas

December 9, 1959

County Judge Woodrow Bean Tuesday said strict enforcement of the 10 p.m. curfew ban on unescorted juveniles entering or leaving Mexico at El Paso County border crossings will be continued.

In a formal statement, Bean also demanded a public apology from Rene Mascarneas, former Juarez mayor, before he would himself again cross the border.

“I do not like the aspersions cast on the members of the U.S. Senate and Congress committees by Mex-Mayor Mascarenas,” said Bean.

“I consider them a slap in the face and I, for one, will not cross into Juarez again until a public apology is made by the author of these slurs,” Bean said.

Mascarenas Monday, speaking before a meeting of the joint International Relations Committee of the Juarez and El Paso Chambers of Commerce, termed a recent proposal to ban juvenile crossings to Juarez a “direct slap in the face of Juarez citizens.”

Mascarenas said Juarez was not a city of sin as pictured by reports from subcommittees in Washington. “It is beyond me that at a time when we are talking about consolidating continental solidarity, and the need of being good neighbors, someone has to come out with something like this,” Mascarenas said.

Announcement of the appointment of a committee to investigate the crossing ban situation brought the following reply form Bean: “If a committee proposes to call on me to ask me to deviate from my sworn duty to uphold the laws so that the purveyors of narcotics, marijuana, pornography and liquor can make profits for themselves form innocent youths they can lure into their clutches, then they are wasting their time and mine.

“I will eat my hat publicly if any stooges for corrupting influences can produce before me one single father or mother who would knowingly permit their daughter or son of juvenile age to cross into or stay in Juarez unescorted by older people after 10 p.m.

“Woodrow Bean does not have to defend his record in promoting good, healthy relations between Mexico and the United States, nor his efforts to carry out the Good Neighbor Policy. All anybody has to do is drive or walk down there and take a look at the Cordova Port of Entry which our friends in Mexico had wanted for 30 years or more. Everybody in Mexico and on this side of the border knows who put it in.

“Apparently, former-Mayor Rene Mascarenas was given some wrong information when he returned to Juarez after a prolonged absence. We had many conferences and worked together in securing the Cordova Port of Entry.

“I have not proposed a ban on juveniles crossing the border, although some reports by two Federal grand juries and several State grand juries suggest that would not be a bad idea unless Juarez authorities crack down on the sale of intoxicating liquor and narcotics to minors. Their action followed repetitions testimony that much of the crime committed in El Paso County by youths originates in drinking and dope sprees stated in Juarez.

“What I have done and will continue to do is to enforce the City ordinance which sets a 10 p.m. curfew for juveniles by assisting in stationing County juveniles officers and deputy sheriffs at the U.S. end of the crossings. This will continue and, if necessary, Sheriff Bob Bailey will detail additional men to do the work.

“I do not like the aspersions cast on the members of the U.S. Senate and Congress committees by ex-Mayor Mascarenas. I consider them a slap in the face and I, for one, will not cross into Juarez again until a public apology is made by the author of these slurs. I have also noted that a former El Paso mayor was a member of the committee which heard the remarks of Mr. Mascarenas and plans to call on me.

“If this hamburger peddler thinks that I am going to help him get the 10 p.m. curfew ordinance repealed by City Council so juveniles can hang around his places and plot vandalism and even more serious crimes, he has another thing coming and I think the police might well start checking his places, too.

“The curfew ordinance is a good one. It bans juveniles on the streets or in public places after 10 p.m. unless attending school or church function. I do not believe there are any school or church functions in Juarez after 10 p.m. City police enforce the ban in the City, but they say they do not have the manpower to station men at the bridges, so the County is supplying the manpower in order to help out.

“I received 42 telephone calls between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. this morning, including many from pastors of all church denominations; all urging that I stick to my plan to enforce the curfew at the border.