A recent CNJ article about living in the Depression brought back memories of my grandfather, Karl D. Williams.

He was a metallurgical engineer and division director with the Navy Department in Washington who began his 38-year government career in 1911.

By the mid-1920s he was well known for his work with various alloys used in shipbuilding and was constantly asked to work for private industry at a much higher salary. He socialized, fished and hunted with heads of large corporations but decided to stick with the Navy.

In 1929, he watched his friends lose their jobs, move their children from Ivy League universities to state colleges, sell their homes, watch their stock value fall to practically nothing and resign from private clubs.

During the Depression, my grandfather maintained his home, sent my mother to George Washington University, and traveled when he wanted.

My father and I both had long careers in the federal government and recommend it highly as stable, recession-proof employment with lots of opportunity for advancement and nice people to work with.

You don’t get rich but you do get a retirement income. It is something to think about as you look around you nowadays.

My grandfather grew up on a farm in Ohio. He was far from rich and realized at an early age that stability was a most important facet of life.

Karl D. Spence

Clovis

Students showed respectful behavior

On March 26 we buried my grandfather, A.C. Hill, in Portales. He was a longtime resident of the community and known by many.
I would like to give kudos to the coaches and students of the Portales High School tennis team.

As we were leaving the funeral home for the cemetery, the team stopped practice and stood silently until the procession had passed.

Unfortunately not all motorists were as respectful as those students.

The team exemplifies the very best Portales has to offer. The community should be proud of the example they set.

Levi Hill
Jal

Recycling program benefit for city

I would like to give a big thanks to the city of Clovis for its new recycling program.

Any way that we can cut down on things sent to the landfill will help all of us in limiting additional money spent on trash and will also benefit the environment.

The recycling department informed me that items to be recycled at present include plastics, tin cans and cardboard.

There are no collection boxes at present for glass and newspapers, but there will be in the near future.

Recycling bins are located at Wal-Mart, Albertsons, and the landfill.

The sliding doors are easy to open.

Ruth Burns
Clovis