Submitted Stories

New Women’s Marker – Myrtle Attaway Farquhar 1900 – 1972

When you visit Hobbs, in the Southeastern part of New Mexico, don’t miss the New Mexico Historical Women’s Marker honoring the life of Myrtle Attaway Farquhar.  Her marker is located near the entrance to the New Mexico Junior College. The college is located at 5317 N Lovington Highway in Hobbs. Myrtle has been celebrated because of the care and passion she brought to educating African-American students. For many years she inspired sixth graders teaching math, social science and home making at the segregated Booker T. Washington School in Hobbs. She and her husband contributed to the lives of ten students by helping to finance their education. Myrtle was inducted into the Southeastern New Mexico Education Association Hall of fame in 1969. She passed way in 1972. Myrtle is yet another example of women contributing their gifts, talents, love and money to the betterment of their community. What a gift she was to the people of the state of New Mexico and our...

Submitted Stories

New Mexico Women’s Historical Marker Project Update

Prior to 2007, San Ildefonso Pueblo potter Maria Montoya Martinez was the only woman in New Mexico honored with a historical marker. Since the initial 64 markers went up around the state between 2007 and 2010, the project has continued to grow. In the past twelve months or so 14 new women’s markers have been added to the group. Over the next few months, we will use this area of our website to update you on these additional women and the contributions they have made. Also, Phil and I continue to do storytelling and book signings on our book. This project is alive and well! The women continue to inspire us every...

Submitted Stories

The Legacy of Miss Rice

I could not possibly list all the women who have made a positive impact on my life, but I’d like to tell about the first one. Emily Rice, my senior high school English teacher. Miss Rice was a tall, slender, soft-spoken woman with graying hair neatly braided and wrapped around her head. She taught at Peoria High for twenty-seven years. But in the 1930s when she’d first applied for a teaching job, it was not easy to get hired. Even a degree from Smith College and her experience with teaching immigrants were not enough credentials to overcome the difficulties of the Great Depression. But once she became part of the faculty, parents and students began praising her work. It was easy to understand why. Sitting in her class of ’56, she’d brought Shakespeare’s Macbeth to life for me, explaining the structure and meaning. It lit a fire! We memorized the first few stanzas of Canterbury Tales in “Olde English” but she warned us that it would be with us forever. She was right. When the parents of many of her students would go back for Open House, they wouldn’t greet her with, “Hello Miss Rice.” They’d just smile and say: Whan that Aprille, with hise shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; In perfect Olde English! Emily Rice passed on before I had a chance to go back and recite those words. And before I had a chance to tell her how much she and her class had meant to me. But obviously I wasn’t the only one touched by her. Every year at commencement ceremonies, the Emily Rice Award is presented to the most outstanding graduating senior. Her legacy lives on. So, Miss Rice, wherever you are, from my heart . . . Thank...

Submitted Stories

Celebrating My Mother

Phil and I had decided to dedicate our book to both of our mothers. His mother Ernestine passed away a number of years ago; however, my mother Anne is 86 years old and still going strong. There are so many positive things I can share with all of you about my mother: – Nurturing – Her huge heart and empathy impacted each of us in an important way. My mother loved being a mother and it showed! – Homework – She spent countless hours with each of her four children every evening helping us with our homework. She helped us learn to memorize information for tests by creating word games. What a gift! -Project Management – We all learned self-discipline and focus from her. Three of us have graduate degrees; and we have all told her that her leadership is the reason why. – Belief in God! – My mother was a devout Catholic. Because of her guidance, we all prayed together every evening. To this day, I am still praying in the evening. She helped us all believe in something bigger than what we saw with our eyes. What a wonderful gift this was to all of us. Our belief in God has made it a bit easier making our way in life. I look forward to hearing about your mother! Tell us all about...