DEMING – The Deming Old-Timers Group consists of long term Deming and surrounding area residents and past DHS classes. Currently, they hold reunions for Deming Wildcat classes from the ’40s through the ’90s and Sunshine School.
This year’s Old-Timers reunion is set for this weekend, October 15-18, 2026, with the main reunion dinner on Saturday night.
The Old Timers classes organized the Deming Old-Timers Facebook Group to share photos and stories year to year of the Old Timers Gatherings.
To qualify as an official Old Timers member you must be 30 years of age or older and have resided in New Mexico for at least 10 years. Dues of $1/year are collected annually along with your dinner/dance tickets.
History of the Deming Old-Timers Association
Deming, NM is a community on I-10 between El Paso and Tucson that started as a railroad town in the 1880s. It is primarily a farming and ranching town known over the years for long staple cotton production and more recently for green chile and pecan farms.
Go back to the year 1913. That was the first meeting of the Old Timers Association.
Mrs. Julius Rosch, wife of a Deming merchant, was proud of her newly completed home. She told her husband she wanted to throw a party for his friends. While Julius favored the idea, he decided invitations would be sent only to people who had lived in Deming 30 years or more. That’s how long he had been there, and he further decided it would be a stag event.
Twenty-eight men attended the dinner party, where the group sang songs from the era, told stories about each other and enjoyed old friendships. An autograph album was put together, with each guest writing down his name, age and year of arrival in Deming. The book is now in the possession of the Old Timers Association.
The party was so successful that they agreed to meet each year.
During Prohibition, the Old Timers held their reunions in Palomas, Mexico, at Fred Mister’s place.
In 1930, the all-male event was changed to permit women to attend. In 2006 co-presidents began to acknowledge all who contribute-husband/wife, sister/brother, or mother/son.
Thursday, October 15
This year they will kick off on Thursday with a Meet & Greet from 2-5 pm at the Rio Mimbred Country Club.
Friday, October 16
Friday after a breakfast at La Fonda, they will gather at the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum for Coffee & Bagels from 10:00 am to noon.
Reunion events will be held at various times and locations between 11:30 am and 10:00 pm for the Sunshine School, ’40s-’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s DHS classes.
Saturday, October 17
Saturday Morning First United Methodist Church of Deming will host the Old Timers Coffee from 9-11 am with doors opening at 5:00 pm for the big Old Timers Dinner at the Mimbres Valley Special Events Center.
Sunday, October 18
To end their weekend you can find them Sunday at Holy Family Catholic Church’s 98th Annual Klobase at Courthouse Park.
Reunion Contact Information
For information on this year’s Old Timers Reunion reach out to the appropriate person.
For the ’40’s, ’50’s & ’60s classes: Leroy Zachek 623-910-2666
For all ’70s classes: Norma Valdez 575-494-0502
For all ’80’s classes: Mary DeNuccio maryedenuccio@gmail.com
For Sunshine School; Mary Sweetser Hayes 505-215-1647
Or Contact Duane & Cecilia Ruebush for more information.
Kylee Creasy – Deming Old-Timers Reunion
