DeSoto Woodrow Laughter
DeSoto Woodrow Laughter of New Mexico
by Justin Cy Laughter
D.W. "Dub" Laughter was born Feb. 25, 1916, in Harding County, N.M., near the town of Roy to Madison and Mittie Livingston Laughter. His dad died of pneumonia when Dub was age 4 and his uncle and aunt, Oscar and Rhoda Kidd of Roy, mainly raised him. He graduated from Roy High School in 1935. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture with a major in animal husbandry in 1940. He was an active member of the stock judging team at NMSU.
He served as a county supervisor for the Farm Security Administration from 1940 to 1947 living in Clayton, Lovington, Fort Sumner, Estancia, Espanola and Alamogordo, N.M., during this time. He married Mildred Oliver on Dec. 30, 1945, at her parents' country home near Clayton. Dub and Mildred farmed near Felt, Okla., for some eight years before taking over the cattle ranch operations of Mildred's parents' southwest of Clayton on Jan. 1, 1957.
Dub ran a cow-calf operation on nine sections of ranchland on Carrizo Creek, with its stream-cut terrain, cedar trees and sand hills. He also raised forage sorghum that served as livestock feed. He was considered to be one of northeastern New Mexico's finest cattlemen. Dub and Mildred lived on the ranch until 1967, when they moved into Clayton for health reasons. Dub commuted to the ranch each morning to run operations until finally retiring at age 87.
Dub became actively involved in civic activities once they moved to town. He was one of the founders of the Clayton Medical Offices, built in 1970 to support the local medical community, by enticing doctors to move to Clayton. He served on the board of directors of the medical offices for 14 years, including six years as president. He served on the board of directors of KLMX radio station for 16 years. He served on the Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce and its Rodeo Board. He was one of the original organizers and members of the Clayton Lions Club. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Clayton.
In 1990, the Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce honored Dub for his lifetime contributions to the rural lifestyle in northeastern New Mexico by naming him "Old Timer of the Year" and presenting him with a pair of trophy spurs at the July 4th festivities.
Dub loved his family and was very proud of his two sons and their families. He enjoyed being "Pop" to his boys, his grandchildren and his great- granddaughter. He also enjoyed an occasional hunting or fishing excursion.
###
by Justin Cy Laughter
D.W. "Dub" Laughter was born Feb. 25, 1916, in Harding County, N.M., near the town of Roy to Madison and Mittie Livingston Laughter. His dad died of pneumonia when Dub was age 4 and his uncle and aunt, Oscar and Rhoda Kidd of Roy, mainly raised him. He graduated from Roy High School in 1935. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture with a major in animal husbandry in 1940. He was an active member of the stock judging team at NMSU.
He served as a county supervisor for the Farm Security Administration from 1940 to 1947 living in Clayton, Lovington, Fort Sumner, Estancia, Espanola and Alamogordo, N.M., during this time. He married Mildred Oliver on Dec. 30, 1945, at her parents' country home near Clayton. Dub and Mildred farmed near Felt, Okla., for some eight years before taking over the cattle ranch operations of Mildred's parents' southwest of Clayton on Jan. 1, 1957.
Dub ran a cow-calf operation on nine sections of ranchland on Carrizo Creek, with its stream-cut terrain, cedar trees and sand hills. He also raised forage sorghum that served as livestock feed. He was considered to be one of northeastern New Mexico's finest cattlemen. Dub and Mildred lived on the ranch until 1967, when they moved into Clayton for health reasons. Dub commuted to the ranch each morning to run operations until finally retiring at age 87.
Dub became actively involved in civic activities once they moved to town. He was one of the founders of the Clayton Medical Offices, built in 1970 to support the local medical community, by enticing doctors to move to Clayton. He served on the board of directors of the medical offices for 14 years, including six years as president. He served on the board of directors of KLMX radio station for 16 years. He served on the Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce and its Rodeo Board. He was one of the original organizers and members of the Clayton Lions Club. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Clayton.
In 1990, the Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce honored Dub for his lifetime contributions to the rural lifestyle in northeastern New Mexico by naming him "Old Timer of the Year" and presenting him with a pair of trophy spurs at the July 4th festivities.
Dub loved his family and was very proud of his two sons and their families. He enjoyed being "Pop" to his boys, his grandchildren and his great- granddaughter. He also enjoyed an occasional hunting or fishing excursion.
