The former public relations director to major U.S. corporations and one of New Mexico’s premier historians were honored as Sages of the Southwest, Preservers of History, in Roswell.
Arthur “Art” McQuiddy, former public relations director for U.S. Steel and International Harvester Corp., and Elvis E. Fleming, retired assistant professor at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell and author of numerous books about the history of southeastern New Mexico, were honored this week.
McQuiddy and Fleming thanked the crowd who turned out at the 28th Annual Heritage Dinner, sponsored by the Historical Society & Foundation of Southeast New Mexico.
Both honorees have been active in the Historical Society for years.
McQuiddy, born in Sedalia, Mo., worked for the Kansas City Star, then The Associated Press in central Missouri.
He served as a U.S. Navy aviator during World War II, flying PBYs. He received 2 awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing U.S. aircrews under enemy fire in the Pacific Command.
After his release from active duty in 1945, McQuiddy moved to Roswell, where he became editor of the Roswell Morning Dispatch.
He was editor during the reported crash of the UFO near Roswell in July 1947.
In 1948, McQuiddy was named executive secretary of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.
That year he also met Aleen Hinkle, granddaughter of Gov. James Hinkle. They were married in 1949.
The McQuiddys left New Mexico for New York City, where Art became director of public relations for U.S. Steel.
He subsequently was recruited by International Harvester Corporation, where he was named corporate vice president for corporate communications, where he oversaw the Chicago-headquartered firm’s advertising, public affairs, public relations and stockholder relations.
After returning the Roswell following his retirement, McQuiddy became president of the Chaves County Historical Society in 1980.
Aleen McQuiddy died in 2007.
During the Heritage Dinner, Aleen was honored as well as Art.
Elvis Fleming was born in Bailey County, Texas.
He and his wife, Menza, moved to Roswell in 1969 when Elvis accepted the position of history instructor at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell.
Fleming taught history and social sciences at ENMU-Roswell for 28 years.
In 1975, he was promoted to the academic rank of assistant professor.
In 1992, he was named chairman of the Liberal Arts Division, a position he held until he retired 5 years later.
He served multiple terms as a member of the Historical Society board of directors, 2 years as president, and has been chief volunteer archivist at the Historical Society’s museum at 200 N. Lea Ave. since it opened in 1976.
Fleming has received multiple awards and honors for his writings about the history of southeastern New Mexico.