AFTER ANIMAS

Leaving Animas to go to school at New Mexico A. & M. was an experience for C.L. that amounted to being thrown to the winds of the desert. He was now in college with a very different basketball team and academic classes that were a challenge from the way he had studied at Animas High.

1955

" Summer of 1955 After senior and before freshman year in college worked for Gillespie Mine & Mill. Worked in a lead and zinc mine in Badger Canyon between Dunagans and Godferys. Worked five days a week and rodeoed weekends."

1955

"Started college at New Mexico A. & M. with a Victoria Land and Cattle Company scholarship and a basketball scholarship. Lost both of them due to low grades at end of freshman year. . . dummy. Not disciplined.”

"Freshman year at New Mexico A & M was a miserable year."

Note from Gene Shumway: (Dr. Shumway retired from teaching at a university)

"I'm pondering C. L.'s comment, ‘What a dummy.’ During the 30 years that I have interacted with C. L. Hoskins, it has become very clear to me that he has intellectual capacities far above the average range . . . I would guess that they are somewhere in the superior range. From Argie's education and career as a teacher in "special education," Argie has taught me a great deal about brain functioning and cognitive processing. Many brilliant and famous people have also been dyslexic and/or possessed other cognitive challenges. Many of them have never graduated from college or even high school.”

“C. L.'s sister Argie, who is quite challenged with sequencing her world,  suffered greatly during her elementary and high school years from her feelings of being ‘dumb.’ Fortunately, she learned about the differences in cognitive processing while she was still in college.”

“Small wonder that we have been given the junction to judge not that we be not judged.”

C. L. is bright and gifted in ways that you would know if you knew Mr. Haskins. (My name for Mr. Hoskins, C. L.)

Edna Lawson Hoskins' History:

1955-1956

“Argie Ella transferred to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces from New Mexico Western in Silver City to be with her brother in Las Cruces. C.L. graduated from Animas High and started to New Mexico State University. He was on a basketball scholarship and a Kerns Cattle and Land scholarship. One of the joys of their school experience in Las Cruces was the attractive western shirts and dresses I made sister and son out of the same material. They had danced in the kitchen out at the ranch and made up dance steps. With their "look alike" outfits and their "fancy" dance steps, they had fun at the campus dances.”

Argie's Memories:

One of the joys of our school experience in Las Cruces was dancing at western dances with the attractive western shirts and dresses that mother had made for us. Great presents, those memorable gifts to her children with time and energy, were given from her heart. Mother was so proud of her children. She was committed to being a mother. She did her best with what she had in the way of resources, time and energy. Blessed.

From Argie's Journel:
After my freshman year in college at New Mexico Western College, in Silver City, now New Mexico Western University, I transferred to A & M. My year at A & M was very eventful for an Animas girl.  I have some really great memories including yelling my lungs out while Aggie's played basketball. One player was my brother who was on a basketball scholarship.  Memories of western dancing, when during the dances, my brother and I would show off our dance routines learned in the kitchen back at the ranch.  The kids at college thought I was going to the dances with two guys.  My date, it was usually Buz Burris, would dance with other girls while I was showing off  by “kicking up a step” with  my brother C.L.

From Argie Hoskins N.M.A.&M. 1955-1956

C.L. Hoskins standing next to the Coach

From Argie Hoskins N.M.A.&M. 1955-1956

Back Row Left: C.L. Hoskins

From MILTON HALL

 This is were the action happened at A.&M.

From MILTON HALL

 At one time this was the place where the A.&M. dances happened.

That old ballroom floor is the same ballroom floor after 54 years. My feet stepped where our feet had stepped. So exciting!

Argie's Journel:

The excitement of the Sun Carnival days came next!

1955

C. L. was his sister Argie's escort to the Sun Carnival festival in El Paso, Texas for the Sun Bowl. She represented New Mexico A&M. Yes, a moment in time with her brother. When she was escorted and introduced under the spotlights with the flare of "From the House of Hoskins" and as programed; stopped, turned, hesitated and C.L. looked down at his sister, "I love you little sis."  Never will I forget that tender, magical moment. He really didn't hate me. Sometimes, as kids growing up, one wonders!
He loved the activities with all the lovely girls that he flirted with as they danced from one event to another.
This gave Argie the chance to flirt with other boys. Well, the one she really wanted to know, she met later. He was escorting some lovely. I wish Charlie could have met C. L.

C. L. was a good choice because I had several boy friends that I could have asked, but that would have complicated my life. The festivities  were so entertaining for the “kids” from Animas Valley. We had never been to such “uptown” society.  It was comfortable to have my brother with me, with whom I did not need to converse if I didn't want to do that horrible thing called talking. We understood the language of feelings.

From Argie Hoskins N.M.A.&M. 1955-1956

Argie and C.L. Hoskins at Aunt Boo's home in El Paso

As I scanned my Sun Carnival pictures, the tears flowed. No, this did not happen when I was scanning other pictures that had stirred happy, funny memories. The tears jumped from my heart to my head. Why? I was jubilant over having my brother with me and excited for both of us.I had a very handsome man by my side. I knew who he was, but me- -- who was Argie Hoskins?

1956

"At end of that school year, went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a telegrapher clerk [Relief clerk] in El Paso, Hatchita and Douglas. Still rodeoing all weekends. First rodeo was in 1954. Between 1954 and 1964 made around $50,000. $35,000 of this was as a professional.”

"Worked for them [Southern Pacific Railroad] two months while going to three rodeos in a row and won all three and thought I had to be a world champion rodeo rider, so quit the railroad."

C. L. Hoskins       Drawing by Anne Manahan

Anyone know where Anne Manahan is located?

"In the next six rodeos, didn't do very well so went to work for Standard Stations Inc. in August or September 1956. Worked in a small but popular station in Las Cruces.

The next post will be "Days in Los Angeles" and followed by "Army Days."  Not last, but next will be Rodeo with C. L.  I will leave marriages and children until later.