Capt. James E. Clark 1905-1960 |
James Clark was born in Bonham, Texas, on October
15, 1905. He joined the New Mexico State Police on November 20, 1937, and
was assigned to Portales. He was later transferred to Tucumcari, Clayton, and
finally to Clovis in 1943. He was promoted to the rank of captain on July 1, 1951, and remained in Clovis.
On the night of September 19, 1960, James had been at a meeting at Cannon Air Force Base and was returning home at about 10:30 p.m. As he approached a double track railroad, marked only by a railroad crossing sign on a single post located to the right side of the road, near Highway 60-84, he failed to see a train traveling west at approximately 60 mph. It is believed that a barn and a house, coupled with a field of tall sunflower plants in the |
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| immediate area hampered James’ ability to see
the train. His police car struck the westbound train and was
carried approximately 142 feet along the railroad track and he was
killed instantly. He was buried in Clovis and was survived by his wife,
two daughters, and two sons.
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