Photo: Past presidents of the Copper Cowbelles were feted at a luncheon Saturday. They include from left, Joyce Biebelle,Neline Dominguez, Pat Head, Evelyn Yates, Shirley Franks, Dee Johnson and Vicki McCauley.

The Copper Cowbelles each year hold a luncheon to honor past presidents. It was held Saturday at the Woman's Club. Each year a different set of presidential terms is chosen to be honored.

This year's list of honorees included four deceased presidents, Ruthie Graham, Betty Salars, Frances Biebelle and Betty Menard. Many of the past presidents who were being honored were in attendance. The complete listof honorees included Evelyn Yates, Carolyn Segulja, Pat Head, Gertrude Delk, Myrtle Oliver, Neline Dominguez, Joyce Biebelle, Dee Johnson, Beth Girard, Vicki McCauley and Shirley Franks.

Several spoke on what they remember about their terms of office.

Dee Johnson gave a brief overview of the history of Copper Cowbelles. The chapter was begun in 1977 by Ruthie Graham, and the first meeting was held at the Roundup Lodge in Mimbres. The group met for many years at the Chino Club in Hurley.

"We did our own cooking for our get-togethers," Johnson said. "After the Chino Club we met at the Hanover Outpost and always had a prime-rib dinner prepared by Eddie and Claudine Evatt."

She also said the bell used by the Copper Cowbelles was mined and formed from copper at Chino Mine.

Joyce Biebelle said, after looking through old scrapbooks from her tenure, she realized that the problems are much the same today as they were in 1992.

"We were trying to educate the public about the health benefits of beef and about public lands," Joyce said.

She recounted the group's once-a-year visit to Phoebe Watson's house in Columbus and their annual trek to the Pink Store in Palomas for lunch.

"I also remember the year, Phyllis Grubb used locoweed for decoration," she said. "Locoweed is the bane of livestock owners."

Shirley Franks said she and several of the other past presidents had been visiting about all the "fun times we've had in this building."

The "shindig" was held many times in the Woman's Club, until the group outgrew it.

Franks brought greetings from Beth Girard, who is now living south of Abilene with one of her children.

"I have very happy memories of my tenure," Franks said. "We had a lot of fun with our activities. Once I was in charge of the live auction for the shindig. Bud was the auctioneer. I would hold up and announce the pieces. Once I forgot to say that a lovely piece of purple glass was donated by Phyllis. I had to apologize.

"One time we had no nominations for president," she continued. "When there were no nominations from the floor, I said: ‘If there are no nominations from the floor, I will entertain a motion to disband Copper Cowbelles.' A little voice from the back said: ‘I guess I'll take it.' It was Joyce Biebelle, who was the busiest person in the room. Lynn Edwards finally agreed to take on the task."

Vicki McCauley said: "Without help the president would be SOL. I was lucky to have Nancy Jackson as my secretary."

She said she usually took her children with her to the Watson's place and over the Mexico, even though she was advised not to do so. They always enjoyed the events.

"Cowbelles has always been a good time," McCauley said. "One year, we donated beef for a bus drivers' conference.

"My mother-in-law's mother, Goldie Stark, started the first Cowbelles in Douglas, Arizona," she said.

She said in 1996, the Copper Cowbelles took the Sweepstakes prize in the Lighted Christmas Parade. She also remembered the Father's Day picnics, which would be held at various ranches, including the Nan, Fowler, and Gene Simon's ranches.

Pat Head said she has enjoyed everything about Copper Cowbelles.

Neline Dominguez said she was a school bus driver and a Copper Cowbelle at the same time when the bus drivers' conference was held in the area.

"My husband would go out to do chores before it was time to drive the bus," Neline recounted. "If he didn't show up, I would drive. I realized many years later that he never took a watch with him. "

She, while serving as president, was busy with the ranch, her kids and "everything."

"One year, I said I would donate the money instead of making my chili for the auction," Neline said. "Harry Bright, whom I'm known since he was a baby, threw a fit, so I made it. Most years he paid top dollar for it. Once, several others, including George Jackson, bid up the price and Harry ended up paying $180 for it. Joyce's jelly was always also a big seller."

Neline will be attending a state Farm Bureau function and expects to see old friends she has met over the years through Cowbelles.

Evelyn Yates expressed her pride in "every Cowbelle here."

"I was privileged to be Copper Cowbelles president three different times," Yates said. "Three of our honorary members were charter members of the Douglas Cowbelles group."

Yates also served five years on the American Cowbelles Association board, and "I met Caren Cowan's grandmother." Cowan serves as the director for the New Mexico Cattlegrowers' Association.

Yates also served two two-year terms as state Cowbelles secretary and went on to be state president, as well as serving a total of 25 years on the state board.

"That year, they changed the date of the Cattlegrowers' calendar, so we did 12 months of work in nine months," Yates said. "We fought to keep the national name as American Cowbelles, but we lost that fight, and it became the American Women Cattlegrowers' Association."

The assembled Cowbelles were entertained by cowboy poetry recited by Virginia Robertson. She also accompanied on guitar the sing-along.

Members of the Woman's Club catered the lunch.