|
Post by NaylorHammer on May 17, 2013 13:05:30 GMT -7
Basketball dates back as far as football in the history of Artesia school sports. Shown here are the Artesia High School boys’ basketball team and coach in 1927. From left to right are (first row) J.A. Clayton, J.D. Jackson, Harry Jernigan (team captain), Ernest Fleming, Charles Horner, and coach F.F. Priest; (second row) James Naylor, Earl Mann, and Leon Clayton. When I first saw this basketball photo a couple of days ago I immediately recognized a couple of very familiar names. But I wasn't really sure! SOOOO.......while I was at City Hall today conducting some business I decided to do a little research on the matter, and it turns out that this photo it EXTREMELY relevant as far as the history of Artesia is concerned. The guy on the bottom row (far left) is Joseph Adolphus Clayton Jr. The guy on the top row (far right) is Leon Clayton. Joseph Jr. and Leon were brothers. Their FATHER was Joseph Adolphus Clayton SENIOR! And HE (the father) was one of Artesia's very first Mayors! Joseph Adolphus Clayton SENIOR (the dad of the 2 boys in the pic) was the Mayor of Artesia in the early 1930s. AND, he has a street named after him.......Clayton Avenue. I just thought that was very interesting. Here is something I found on the genealogy.com website that shows the 2 boys (Joseph Adolphus JUNIOR and Leon Clayton) as brothers............ Children of JOSEPH CLAYTON (Mayor of Artesia) and NORA CAVNESS are: i. THELMA ELIZABETH8 CLAYTON, b. November 25, 1902, Roswell, NM; d. March 1952, Ca.; m. PAUL SENGEBUSH; d. Unknown. 722. ii. EULA BEE CLAYTON, b. July 28, 1904, Artesia, NM; d. April 09, 1995, Oklahoma City, Haskell Co., OK. iii. VERNON EUGENE CLAYTON, b. October 10, 1906, Artesia, NM; d. November 29, 1975, Ca.; m. VERNA PORTER, October 29, 1927; d. Unknown. 723. iv. JOSEPH ADOLPHUS CLAYTON, JR., b. July 18, 1909, Artesia, NM; d. January 14, 1993, Enid, OK.. 724. v. LEON JAY CLAYTON, b. August 09, 1911, Artesia, NM; d. November 04, 1980, Artesia, NM. vi. JACK CLAYTON, b. January 31, 1914, Artesia, NM; d. December 1915, Artesia, NM. 725. vii. PAULINE JUANITA CLAYTON, b. July 14, 1916, Artesia, NM; d. January 17, 1978, Artesia, NM.
|
|
|
Post by crispysdad on May 18, 2013 8:39:57 GMT -7
When I first saw this basketball photo a couple of days ago I immediately recognized a couple of very familiar names. But I wasn't really sure! SOOOO.......while I was at City Hall today conducting some business I decided to do a little research on the matter, and it turns out that this photo it EXTREMELY relevant as far as the history of Artesia is concerned. The guy on the bottom row (far left) is Joseph Adolphus Clayton Jr. The guy on the top row (far right) is Leon Clayton. Joseph Jr. and Leon were brothers. Their FATHER was Joseph Adolphus Clayton SENIOR! And HE (the father) was one of Artesia's very first Mayors! Joseph Adolphus Clayton SENIOR (the dad of the 2 boys in the pic) was the Mayor of Artesia in the early 1930s. AND, he has a street named after him.......Clayton Avenue. I just thought that was very interesting. Here is something I found on the genealogy.com website that shows the 2 boys (Joseph Adolphus JUNIOR and Leon Clayton) as brothers............ Children of JOSEPH CLAYTON (Mayor of Artesia) and NORA CAVNESS are: i. THELMA ELIZABETH8 CLAYTON, b. November 25, 1902, Roswell, NM; d. March 1952, Ca.; m. PAUL SENGEBUSH; d. Unknown. 722. ii. EULA BEE CLAYTON, b. July 28, 1904, Artesia, NM; d. April 09, 1995, Oklahoma City, Haskell Co., OK. iii. VERNON EUGENE CLAYTON, b. October 10, 1906, Artesia, NM; d. November 29, 1975, Ca.; m. VERNA PORTER, October 29, 1927; d. Unknown. 723. iv. JOSEPH ADOLPHUS CLAYTON, JR., b. July 18, 1909, Artesia, NM; d. January 14, 1993, Enid, OK.. 724. v. LEON JAY CLAYTON, b. August 09, 1911, Artesia, NM; d. November 04, 1980, Artesia, NM. vi. JACK CLAYTON, b. January 31, 1914, Artesia, NM; d. December 1915, Artesia, NM. 725. vii. PAULINE JUANITA CLAYTON, b. July 14, 1916, Artesia, NM; d. January 17, 1978, Artesia, NM. NaylorHammer...is this you Jades? Anyway, all you did was quote my post...just wondering if you meant to make a comment. If you added a comment then I am not seeing it. Are you related to the Naylor kid in the picture? If this really is Jades I know that your family goes WAAAY back in the history of Artesia, almost to it's founding.
|
|
|
Post by valfrenchfrank on Jun 1, 2013 12:23:16 GMT -7
Here is a blast from the past! How many of you remember this place? And where it was located? I know it was still there when I graduated in 1976. Not sure when they tore it down...I think maybe sometime in the early '80s. The place was there for a LONG time, my mom still talks about going to Frenchies when she was in high school and she graduated from AHS in 1952. If you ever watched Happy Days this place was like "Arnold's".....a favorite hangout for high school kids, and it was located VERY close to the high school. I got bunches more old pics like this one, some of them are about AHS but a lot of them are not. Lot's of old pics from the 60s, 50s, 40s, and maybe even earlier of downtown Artesia, Main street, stuff like that. May post some of those later. I remember Frenchies I used to go there on my lunch break and order bunch of frys.
|
|
|
Post by valfrenchfrank on Jun 1, 2013 12:27:10 GMT -7
Here is a blast from the past! How many of you remember this place? And where it was located? I know it was still there when I graduated in 1976. Not sure when they tore it down...I think maybe sometime in the early '80s. The place was there for a LONG time, my mom still talks about going to Frenchies when she was in high school and she graduated from AHS in 1952. If you ever watched Happy Days this place was like "Arnold's".....a favorite hangout for high school kids, and it was located VERY close to the high school. I got bunches more old pics like this one, some of them are about AHS but a lot of them are not. Lot's of old pics from the 60s, 50s, 40s, and maybe even earlier of downtown Artesia, Main street, stuff like that. May post some of those later. I remember Frenchies I used to go there on my lunch break and order bunch of frys.
|
|
|
Post by valfrenchfrank on Jun 1, 2013 12:34:13 GMT -7
I am new to this site and found it by doing a google search on my dad, Johnny French, who graduated from AHS in 1958. I see that Agent Orange and crispysdad have posted several things from that era and wondered if you might have any photos or articles of those football years (1955-57 seasons)? My son is playing for Central High School here in San Angelo and I wanted to share some of my Dad's football days with him. We do have a few things in a scrapbook but anything else you all have, including memories, would be great. My dad is retired now, in good health and is having fun watching Connor play ball. Also, one of you posted a photo of FRENCHIES. I loved that! It belonged to my grandparents, Florence (Flo) and Theb French. How much fun for me to open this blog up to see that pic!
|
|
|
Post by crispysdad on Jun 1, 2013 16:25:41 GMT -7
Valfrenchfrank.........I am very sorry, but I don't have anything like that. But I am VERY well aware of your Dad's exploits on the football field here in Artesia back in the late 1950s. Johnny French is still a local legend among many of the older Bulldog fans. Sadly, I was born in 1958 so I never got to see him play. But my Mom and Dad sure did! My mom graduated from Artesia in 1952 and my dad just a couple of years before that, and they remained Bulldog football fans their entire lives and hardly ever missed a home game. I have heard my parents speak of Johnny French MANY times! I just checked the "individual records" page of a 2009 Bulldog Football program. That 2009 program is the most recent program that I have. In that 2009 program your dad is still listed at #5 in the category "Leading Rushers In A GAME" for the Artesia Bulldogs. 255 yds....Michael McPherson vs Goddard (1987) 243 yds....Jeff Sanders vs Fabens TX (1983) 233 yds....Adrian Olivas vs Ruidoso (2001) 222 yds....Eric Dalton vs Tucumcari (1989) 219 yds....JOHNNY FRENCH vs Highland (1957) Like I said, it is an old program from 2009 but I can almost guarantee you that he is STILL #5 in that category today. There have been 3 football seasons played since then, but Artesia has gone to more of a pass oriented offense over the years and we haven't really had any big-time running backs that put up those kinds of numbers in a single game recently. Notice that the most recent one on the list is 2001. That was 12 years ago that we had a running back that put up those kinds of numbers. So I can almost guarantee you that NOBODY has done anything like that in the 3 years since that 2009 program came out. In fact, I am going to go ahead and GUARANTEE you that nobody else has snuck into the Top 5 in the last 3 years......and I will also go ahead and guarantee that Johnny French is still #5 in that category TODAY! I think it is totally amazing that he is still in the top 5 all-time given that 1957 was 56 years ago that he last stepped on the field for the Bulldogs. Absolutely amazing! Your dad held that record for 23 years until Jeff Sanders broke in in 1983. That is a true testament as to how great of a football player your dad really was!!! The only thing that I do have is a DVD that is entitled "Artesia Bulldog State Championship Highlights". That DVD has game highlights from every Bulldog STATE CHAMPIONSHIP game from 1957-2006. Yes, 1957 is included and I believe that was your dad's senior season. So there should (might) be some video footage of your dad at the very beginning of that DVD. I said the "beginning" of the DVD because they start the video with the 1957 State Championship highlights. Of course you would probably have to know what number he wore in order to find him in the video, but your dad could probably help you with that. BUT THE THING IS that the DVD that I am talking about will not play on my computer. It will play on my TV just fine, but not on my computer. And even if it WOULD play on my computer I'm not smart enough to figure out how to take those highlights from that 1957 game and put them on here so that you could see them. Not even sure if it could be done, although I have heard that it may be possible. BUT, Randall (Agent Orange on this board) is the administrator of this board and he also happens to be a computer genius, lol. A computer guru of sorts. If anybody would be able to take those 1957 highlights from that DVD and post them on here it would be Randall. And I am pretty sure that Randall has that exact same DVD that I am talking about (or at least he USED to), because it was Randall who told me about the DVD being available from the athletic office 6 or 7 years ago. I believe he mentioned that he had picked up his copy and I asked him where I could get one. That's how I got mine. What do you say Randall? Do you still have that State Championship Highlight Video (1957-2006) and is there any way to put those 1957 highlights from the Artesia vs Albq Highland title game on here? Sorry, but other than that I have nothing else. Sorry to put you on the spot Randall, I know that you are extremely busy. Just trying to help the lady out, lol. And Randall, if you no longer have that DVD or if you can't find it.......you can borrow mine! Just give me a call if you don't still have it, AND if you think it could be done. Sorry, but that's all I've got. OH, I do have one other thing. It is a picture of the INSIDE of Frenchies. This picture was taken in 1961. Notice that there is a calendar from Peoples State Bank hanging on the wall in the background. Peoples State Bank (my mom worked there as a teller in the 1950s) changed to Western Bank MANY years ago. Anyway, here is the pic of the inside of Frenchies 1961.........
|
|
|
Post by crispysdad on Jun 1, 2013 17:12:09 GMT -7
Valfrenchfrank........I don't know if you are aware of the "I remember when ... Artesia, New Mexico" facebook group, but there is currently a pretty good, and lengthy, discussion going on in that group about Frenchies. Here is a link to that page........ www.facebook.com/groups/172654222808384/You may have to scroll down a ways, but it is there. You will immediately recognize the picture of Frenchies at the top of the thread when you find it. And there are WAY more than just the 2 comments that are showing, you just have to click on "see additional comments" to see the 28 or so other comments. Just wanted to pass it along to you.
|
|
|
Post by Agent Orange on Jun 2, 2013 16:36:04 GMT -7
Yeah I was born way late for the Johnny French Football times and also the restaurant Frenchies, from what I've heard from others it was a great place to go to.
I do have that state championship dvd crispy, it does have a few short clips from 1957 I believe, I'll see if I can find mine if not I may have to borrow yours. And I wish I was a computer Genius lol.
It is pretty neat valfrenchfrank that you found this forum that way, Frenchies has come up more than once on this forum and when we talk of the greatest rb's to play for the Bulldogs Johnny French is still mentioned, it's good to hear your dad is retired and doing well.
|
|
|
Post by godogs09 on Jun 4, 2013 10:58:07 GMT -7
"Like I said, it is an old program from 2009 but I can almost guarantee you that he is STILL #5 in that category today. There have been 3 football seasons played since then, but Artesia has gone to more of a pass oriented offense over the years and we haven't really had any big-time running backs that put up those kinds of numbers in a single game recently. Notice that the most recent one on the list is 2001. That was 12 years ago that we had a running back that put up those kinds of numbers. So I can almost guarantee you that NOBODY has done anything like that in the 3 years since that 2009 program came out. In fact, I am going to go ahead and GUARANTEE you that nobody else has snuck into the Top 5 in the last 3 years......and I will also go ahead and guarantee that Johnny French is still #5 in that category TODAY! I think it is totally amazing that he is still in the top 5 all-time given that 1957 was 56 years ago that he last stepped on the field for the Bulldogs. Absolutely amazing! Your dad held that record for 23 years until Jeff Sanders broke in in 1983. That is a true testament as to how great of a football player your dad really was!!!"
Johnny French was obviously a fantastic football player. He is still ranked 5th on the single game rushing yards with 219 yards against Highland in 1957 and that is amazing.
But, to say that Artesia hasn't had any "big time running backs" or that Artesia has gone to a more pass oriented offense over the years is somewhat misleading. Coach Henderson has obviously gone to passing a ton more than what was going on in Artesia in the '50's, '60's, '70's, & '80's, but most years he has run a very balanced attack typically having an almost 50/50 attack through the air and on the ground. In addition, the single season rushing leader came along during the "more of a pass oriented offense" years in 2010 when Andy Lopez broke Michael McPherson's single season mark of 1720 yards with a new record 1739 yards. This being done while his QB counterpart, Josh Houghtaling, threw for 3447 yards (3rd only to Paul Maupin 3885 yards in '96 and Landry Jones 3580 yards in '07 for most yards in a season). Andy left a strong mark on the rushing records in Artesia even though he only started one year as the running back as he is now 1st in single season rushing and 4th in career rushing. In addition, Jeremy Duran is also in the record books sitting as the 4th leading rusher in a single season with 1,456 yards in 2006 with a fairly familiar name at QB in Landry Jones who threw for 3433 yards (4th on single season records) that same season. Both Jeremy and Andy were exceptional running backs that are right up there with the best Artesia has ever had even though they had to share the load, so to speak, with our top two QB's (in terms of yardage thrown; Jones 7,680 yards & Houghtaling 5,735 yards, 1 & 2 respectively).
We have some fantastic players throughout our history and it is fun to look back at them and their accomplishments!
|
|
|
Post by crispysdad on Jun 7, 2013 2:23:46 GMT -7
OK, back on topic, lol. Here is another OLD picture of Artesia. The info that I have says that this pic was taken in May, 1967. Probably not too many people on here (if any) who remember the A&W Drive-In. Randall, I think this place was still open when your Dad and I were in high school, but closed shortly after we graduated...I could be wrong. There was a go-cart track in the back of the A&W. The pic was taken looking to the east. The old A&W Drive-In was in the EXACT same spot where the PVT building is today. You can see the Shell station down on the corner of 13th and Main, and beyond that is the building with the rounded roof where Terry's Electronics is today...back then it (Terry's) was a Safeway grocery store. The Phillips 66 gas station was torn down just about a year ago and THAT is where the brand new dress shop or women's clothing store is. And check out all of the old cars!!! Will try to post some old Bulldog related pics sometime soon, maybe this weekend. I think I have maybe 2 or 3 more of those. But craploads and craploads of old "just Artesia" pics.
|
|
Wenttoschoolw/Crispysdad
Guest
|
Post by Wenttoschoolw/Crispysdad on Sept 22, 2013 16:25:39 GMT -7
Hi Crispysdad! Awesome site! More please!
|
|
|
Post by Jades on Sept 23, 2013 10:34:00 GMT -7
Crispysdad - Naylorhammer is not me. I don't know who it is. I am sure I am related to them but my Dad as never posted so I don't think it is him. My family does go way back to the early days. My Great or Great Great Grandfather was in construction and worked on many of the old houses still standing today, including the Museum. When we used to go to the Museum we wouldn't tell them who we were because we couldn't get out of there? They showed us everything! I was young and not that interested. Now I wish I could go do that.
|
|
|
Post by Jades on Sept 23, 2013 10:36:10 GMT -7
Oh and yes the Naylor kid in the picture is one of my Great Uncles. He is my Grandfather's brother and my Dad is named after him.
|
|
|
Post by Tractor Girl on Sept 23, 2013 12:31:21 GMT -7
Hey maybe he worked with teammate Leon Clayton who also became a builder.
|
|
|
Post by crispysdad on Sept 23, 2013 17:27:05 GMT -7
Hi Crispysdad! Awesome site! More please! I will try to put up some more old pics this weekend......if I don't forget. I still have quite a few more. And YES, "Agent Orange" and "Big Dog" do run an awesome site don't they!
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Sept 28, 2013 21:34:21 GMT -7
Anyone have pictures of Morris Field when it was in use by the varsity team? I am assuming there were stands on both sides of the field at the time.
|
|
|
Post by crispysdad on Sept 29, 2013 7:02:10 GMT -7
Anyone have pictures of Morris Field when it was in use by the varsity team? I am assuming there were stands on both sides of the field at the time. Ask and you shall receive! And yes, there were stands on both sides of the field, wooden bleachers on the east side if I remember correctly. Both of these pictures were taken on the same day.....Thanksgiving Day, Nov 24, 1966. The game was the 1966 State Championship game vs Albuquerque Highland. Yes, we played the state championship game on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. We beat Highland 40-12 and ended the season undefeated at 12-0. Both of these pics look like they were taken during pre-game, probably just a few minutes before kick-off. This first pic was taken from the visitors side looking west to the home side. You SHOULD be able to see the Bulldog Pit, High School Auditorium, and Bulldog Bowl in the background...but you can't because none of that stuff has been built yet. This 2nd pic was taken looking to the south endzone.
|
|
|
Post by Mr. Pitch on Sept 29, 2013 11:10:12 GMT -7
Crispy did they do the dogpile that day? When did that start?
|
|
|
Post by crispysdad on Sept 29, 2013 11:57:26 GMT -7
Crispy did they do the dogpile that day? When did that start? I can't remember specifically whether they did or not. My guess would be that they probably did, but I just don't remember specifically for this game. I was only 8 years old in 1966. I was at the game with my parents, we NEVER missed a game. Just don't remember about the dogpile. I DO remember other varsity games (Friday Nights) at Morris Field in the late 60s where they did the dogpile, just not sure exactly when it started.
|
|
|
Post by GoDogs on Sept 29, 2013 17:07:23 GMT -7
The dog pile is fairly new (at least to me). I graduated in 1971 and I don't remember them doing it back then. I believe we played in Hobbs in 1966 (my brother was on the team) or it could have possibly been 1965. We had relatives in Eunice and Andrews who met us at the game. The scuttlebutt was that Hobbs was really good that year and they were going to spank us and send us home. I remember this in particular because my Mom was extra careful around her "in-laws" to not make any "controversial" comments but they were driving her crazy that evening. Back then, I remember they had 2 players run out on the field before the rest of the team, although I don't remember why or who they were. Anyway, the 2 players come trotting out and one of my relatives said "Gosh, is that all you've got?" and with a big grin, my Mother (who never made a smart aleck remark in her entire adult life) said "That's all we need." Talk about quieting a crowd. I loved it!
Correction - My husband (who graduated in 1970) says we did the dog pile back then and thinking back on it, I bet we did. However, I don't remember them doing it up to 1966 when we played in Morris Field. Maybe that was something new they started at Bulldog Bowl. I think the first year we played there was the 1967 football season (1968 graduates). Maybe my mind is just slipping? I'll have to ask my brother next time I talk to him (he graduated in 1967). He did get to play one game in Bulldog Bowl when he came down with the Aggies to Bulldog Bowl in 1967 to play their annual intersquad game.
Unless this is all a dream ...
|
|