U.S. magistrate addresses club

Barbara Evans speaks to the Roswell Rotary Club on June 9 about her role as U.S. Magistrate Court judge.

Buzz Johnson honored

Steve Smith was lead-off speaker at the June 9 Roswell Rotary Memorial Program for fellow Rotarian Buzz Johnson.

Sylvester Parsons “Buzz” Johnson III died May 26, 2021, at the age of 89.

The Roswell Rotary Club each year designates a meeting to honor the its most recently deceased members.

Smith described how Buzz was raised in Roswell and on his family’s nearby SP Johnson Ranch.

Known to “Buzz” by most of his acquaintances, his longtime friend Mary Lou Glass called him “Buzzy,” Smith said.

“Buzzy was also known to be a poker player,” Smith joked. “I’m not really sure how that went for Buzzy because he was also known to be very tight. One example was he sold a house he owned to General (Richard T.) Knowles. When the general moved in there weren’t any lightbulbs in the house.”

Also paying honor to Buzz at the meeting were his son Joel Johnson, and friend and Rotarian Betty Young.

Buzz was born in Roswell on Nov. 11, 1931, to S. P. “Syl” Johnson Jr. and Geraldine Ogle Johnson.

He attended schools in Roswell and graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute in 1949 and the University of New Mexico in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in Business.

In 1953, he married Barbara Jo (B.J.) Leferink. After graduation from UNM, he and B.J. moved to Hayward, Calif., where Buzz was commissioned a second lieutenant at Parks Air Force Base. He served  in the Air Force until 1956, when he returned to Roswell to raise sheep and cattle on the family ranch with his father.

In 1977 Buzz began to focus on investments, oil and gas interests, and real estate. He was civically active, serving as a Chaves County Commissioner in the early 1970s and president of the NMMI Alumni Association. His family said he also enjoyed his longtime membership in the Roswell Rotary Club.

Buzz enjoyed flying his various Cessna airplanes from Roswell to the family ranch and around the Southwest.

He was a pioneer hot-air balloonist and was part owner of the original NMMI balloon. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and traveling to many parts of the world with his wife and many friends.

Buzz is survived by his sons, S.P. “Chip” Johnson IV and Joel Johnson.

Buzz Johnson

Steve Smith

Joel Johnson

Betty Young

Club members at International Convention

Roswell Rotary members joined some 11,000 fellow Rotarians from around the world at the Rotary International Convention in Houston this week.

Seven Roswell Rotary Club representatives attended the event at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

During the convention, Rotarians Bianca and J.P. Cheney met RI President Shekhar Mehta. Bianca is club president-elect.

The convention, which began on June 4, ended Wednesday with the Out of This World Luncheon.

Also attending the convention from the Roswell Rotary Club were incoming District Governor John Drusedum and his wife Sharon; Steve and Carol Henderson; and Carolyn Mitchell.

The 2023 International Convention will be May 27-31 in Melbourne, Australia.

J.P. and Bianca Cheney outside convention center

J.P. and Bianca with Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta

Inside the convention hall in Houston

Roswell Rotary Club members attending the RI Convention include (from left) Steve Henderson, J.P. and Bianca Cheney, Sharon and John Drusedum. Attending but not in photo are Carolyn Mitchell and Carol Henderson.

June Rotary programs

• June 9 - Barb Evans, United States Magistrate Judge
• June 16 - Rebecca Cobos, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell, Special Services
• June 23 - Renee Puckett, City of Roswell, UFO Festival
• June 30 - Evening Meeting, officer installation

Club awards scholarships

The Roswell Rotary Club awarded $13,000 in scholarships to high school students or recent graduates from Chaves County.

Receiving the scholarships were:

Kimber Baker, Danique Blankvoort, Nayeli Cobos, Sydney Crow, Irene Cruz, Nicholas Fox, Andrew Hubbard, Cavan Jones, Tara Jones, Jenna Murphy, Hubert Quintana, Zoey Stewart, and Wesley Tipton.

Eight of the recipients attended the club’s meeting Thursday, June 2, to receive scholarship certificates. The other recipients were unable to attend the meeting, said Chris Lauderman, the club’s scholarship chair and board member.

The Rotary Club annually awards scholarships to students and graduates from Chaves County.

Receiving scholarship certificates at the Roswell Rotary Club meeting Thursday were (from left) Jenna Murphy, Andrew Hubbard, Wesley Tipton, Sydney Crow, Nayeli Cobos, Kimber Baker, Tara Jones, and Zoey Stewart.

Powell speaks at Memorial event

Rotarian Shawn Powell was guest speaker at Memorial Day services Monday at Memory Lawn Memorial Park in Roswell.

Powell, president of Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel.

The ceremony was sponsored by American Legion Posts 61 and 28. Some 300 veterans are buried at the cemetery.

To view Shawn’s speech and the ceremony, tap: https://youtu.be/a7HLah4cwYE

Club seeks program chairs

Club Director Marcos Nava is seeking monthly program chairs, starting in July.

Four Rotarians have volunteered so far to secure programs in the following months:

• August 2022 — Elizabeth Morales

• September 2022 — Marcos Nava

• October 2022 — Kaye Whitefoot

• November 2022 — Carolyn Mitchell

To volunteer, visit with Marcos before or after the Rotary Club meeting or contact him by voice or text at (575) 420-8787 or by email  marcos.nava1@outlook.com