FASF member July McClure (above) is taking over the helm of the Aerodrome Newsletter from our long time Editor, Gene Valdes. This coming “Winter Election Edition” will be under her leadership. As many of you probably know, Gene was our Founding President and then our longest running Aerodrome Editor.
July is a long time resident of Columbus and an almost life long entertainer. She still continues to run the local Tumbleweed Theater, of which she is the owner, and also continues to play gigs with her band, Desert Trio, on a fairly regular schedule mostly within New Mexico, all the time fulfilling various roles in plays, whenever the opportunity arises. Originally from Colorado, where she obtained her BS Degree in Cultural Anthropology, July has also worked as a full time staff reporter for the Deming Headlight Newspaper and Desert Winds Magazine for some time, and now continues to contribute stories to the Headlight whenever she uncovers them. She has also served as a Trustee for the Village of Columbus.
We are blessed to have her and wish her the best with her new responsibilities. July’s late father-in-law, John Two McClure, was a well known Colorado artist who retired to Columbus. He did some impressive paintings of the famed First Aero Squadron Jennies flying over Columbus during the 1916-17 Punitive Expedition. These limited (numbered) prints are for sale at the Columbus Historical Society’s Depot Museum.
July says that taking over from such a fine Editor as Gene will not be an easy task, but she will give it her very best effort. She intends to include a number of stories from both members of the Board of Trustees, from the membership at large, and even from the general public, whenever they are available. She wants to take this opportunity to officially invite one and all to help her give fresh excitement and colorful content to our Foundation’s official quarterly publication. This means photos, as well as articles and news items. If you’d like to contribute to our Aerodrome, please contact July at: 575.531.2542 or email her at: July@VTC.net