Jim Eckles is the scheduled speaker for our next Westerners’ meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Silver City Cross Point Church Fellowship Hall, located at 11600 Highway 180 East. Come join us for a delicious meal and his presentation based on his book, Deming, New Mexico’s Camp Cody: A World War One Training Camp”. Jim tells a unique and fascinating story; so don’t miss this one!
“Camp Cody, located on the northwest side of Deming, New Mexico, was a World War I Army camp from 1916 to 1919. During World War I, Camp Cody was an army training camp for the National Guard units from North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. Soldiers received basic training there before leaving for the war in France. The different National Guard units together formed the 34th Infantry Division and were nicknamed the "Sandstorm Division," a name based on the camp's desert climate. Camp Cody was also built because of the threat of Mexican intervention in the First World War during the US- Mexican Border War the camp was named ‘Camp Brooks’. Then with the beginning of the First World War it was renamed ‘Camp Deming’. The camp was renamed again shortly after the death of the famous buffalo hunter and showman, William F. Cody (1846–1917), better known as ‘Buffalo Bill Cody.’ The camp was open from July 16, 1916, until the early months of 1919.” (From Wikipedia)
Jim Eckles was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska where he attended the University of Nebraska, majoring in English literature and psychology. He then earned his master’s degree in English lit from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Eckles came to the White Sands Public Affairs Office in 1977 as a Department of Army intern. On arrival, he was pushed to learn as much about the missile range as possible. He wrote news releases and feature stories about White Sands capabilities, weapons systems under test, and the people who made it all work.
In addition, he conducted tours and escorted visitors all over the range – to places like the Optics Lab, the Nuclear Effects fast-burst reactor, the Navy launch complexes, Trinity Site, and Victorio Peak. That knowledge paid off when KOBE radio asked him to do a short radio spot every morning during the WSMR morning drive time. From 1992 to 2003, Eckles interacted with the morning DJ to talk about some Aspect of White Sands. He was on the air about 2,400 times and often had to fall back on his diverse knowledge for a meaningful topic each and every day.
Because of his historical knowledge, Eckles proved to be the go-to guy for many of the commemorative signs on WSMR. The Environmental Office obtained the funds and asked Eckles to write and design the signs for the national historic landmarks – Trinity Site and Launch Complex 33. There are two dozen signs a Trinity Site alone. He also created the interpretive signs for the Nike Hercules and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s kiosk at San Augustin Pass.
Eckles was noticed for his extra effort and in 1990 he was given the Test and Evaluation Command’s Professionalism Award. In 1998, he was selected as one of six WSMR employees nominated for the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Awards. In 1999, he was selected as the WSMR Civilian of the Year in the Professional Category.
Finally, Eckles was often called on to tell some aspect of the White Sands story downtown. Over the years, he spoke to groups in places as far away as Albuquerque, Belen, Roswell and Carlsbad as well as those communities surrounding WSMR. Eckles retired from WSMR in 2007 and lives in Las Cruces. Since he retired, public speaking is something he has continued to do as people want to hear his “range tales.”
Westerners is an international group dedicated to sharing and preserving the history of the American West.
“Westerners was founded in 1944 and has over 60 corrals (or chapters) in the US, and 20 corrals abroad, with over 4,000 members around the globe. Corrals generally meet for camaraderie and interesting programs on all aspects of Western history. Anyone who loves the lore and history of the American West can join. Members range from local history buffs and readers and viewers of Western movies, to professional historians, educators, writers, and artists of all kinds.” Our local chapter meets on the third Tuesday of every other month throughout the year, except for December, when the meeting is held on the second Tuesday. Dinner is served at the meeting, and the cost is $12.00 per person for members and $15 for non-members. The public is invited to attend the meeting, and everyone planning on attending should make reservations with Mary Margaret Soule at 538-2888 on or before Sunday, January 17, 2019.