Ptlm. Joe T. Aven, Jr. 1923-1953 |
Joe Aven was born March 30, 1923, and spent
his younger years in southeastern New Mexico. He served with the Hobbs Police
Department and on August 15, 1949, joined the New Mexico State Police
and was assigned to Las Cruces. He later transferred back home, to Hobbs.
On August 5, 1953, he accompanied State Police Sergeant John Ramsey and Hobbs Police Chief E. W. “Bill” Long to Sweetwater, Texas, to conduct a follow up investigation in a perjury case. They were also scheduled to attend the funeral of Gaines County Sheriff Robert L. Reynolds, who had been killed in a car wreck earlier in the week. As the trio traveled in Sgt. Ramsey's police car, they encountered an oncoming car in their lane of travel that was attempting to pass other cars. John took evasive action by swerving to his right in an attempt to get out of the way, but at the same time, the errant driver swerved to his left. As both cars veered off the roadway, they struck head on. Prior to impact, Joe leaned over in front of Chief Long, saving his life. |
|
| John was killed instantly. Joe and
Chief Long were transported
to a nearby hospital where Joe died the following day. He was survived
by his wife and young daughter.
|
||
