Hispanics of Roosevelt County, New Mexico: A History (American Heritage) - Softcover

In 1942, several Hispanic families left drought-devastated Encino and headed for the small, peanut-farming town of Portales in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. Among them was the Trujillo family, including five-year-old Agapito, who later became the county's first Hispanic law enforcement officer. The new arrivals did not feel welcome in Portales, which was almost entirely Anglo and a rumored "sundown" town. However, determined to put down roots and take advantage of economic opportunities, they eventually thrived. Agapito Trujillo tells the story of his family's migration to Roosevelt County alongside the struggles and triumphs of the Hispanic community with candor, grace and an obvious love for his heritage and neighbors.

Agapito "Pete" Trujillo was born in Palma, New Mexico, on February 19, 1937. When he was very young, his family relocated to Encino, New Mexico, for a short period of time. Because of economic necessity, the family became farm workers and migrated to the plains of eastern New Mexico. It is there that this adventure took place.