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Redfield, Georgia B. 1-20-38. 550 words.
JUDGE CHARLES RUFUS BRICE
JUSTICE OF NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT.
Judge Charles Rufus Brice, Justice of the New Mexico
Supreme Court, was born in Ferrell, Texas, August 6, 1870. His
Parents were Rev. John W. and Harriet (Chambers) Brice.
Judge Brice is almost entirely self educated. He received
his early education in the public schools of Texas, and credit
is due him for successfully overcoming the many obstacles he en-
countered in obtaining his higher education, necessary for his
chosen profession the law.
He was admitted to practice, District Court, 46th Judicial
District 2, Texas, in 1893 and was County Attorney of Hall Coun-
ty, Texas 1896 1900.
On October 14, 1896 he was married to Miss Mary Evelyn Pruitt,
of Blooming Grove, Texas. The couple have two daughters, Gladys
Brice Wyatt, and Evelyn Brice Dowaliby, and three grandchildren,
Mary Evelyn Wyatt, daughter of Mrs. Wyatt and James Junior, and
Charles Brice Dowaliby, sons of Evelyn Brice Dowaliby.
Judge Brice, with his family, moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico
in 1903. He was elected Mayor of Carlsbad 1904 1906.
In 1909 he was elected to New Mexico House of Representatives
for two years.
In 1910 he was elected Delegate to the New Mexico Constitu-
tional Convention, which convened in Santa Fe in 1911. He and his
family moved to Roswell in 1916.
In 1918 he was elected District Judge, 5th Judicial
District of New Mexico was re-elected in 1924, and resign-
ed in 1927 to re-enter the practice of law which he resumed
with the late Clarence J. Roberts, Chief Justice of New Mex-
ico Supreme Court.
In 1934, he was elected Justice of the Supreme Court of
New Mexico, for a term of eight years.
During the years of Judge Brice's residence in Carlsbad
he worked untiringly in the long struggle for statehood, which
had begun as far back, as 1870. Admittance to the union was
deferred from year to year because of too small population
for so large a territory.
Judge Brice was one of the few Democrats (there were only
twenty-six) of the one hundred men, mostly Republicans that form-
ed the Constitutional Convention that convened in Santa Fe in
1911, before New Mexico was made a state in January 1912.
As a member on appointment of Committees, Judge Brice ap-
pointed the late Judge Granvill A. Richardson, of Roswell as a
member of the Judiciary Committee.
Judge and Mrs. Brice arememboswe of the First Baptist Church
of Roswell. They are members of Roswell Country Club and other
social club organizations. They are world traveled, having been
abroad frequently accompanied by different members of their
family on numerous journeys.
In their home 800 WO, Richardson Avenue, there are treasures
collected by them from many nations. Masterpieces of paintings
and hand -carved woods and pieces of furniture, embroidered
linens, and treasures of China (gathered by Mrs. Brice) and
dolls, collected by Evelyn Wyatt, from all the countries
she visited when traveling abroad with her mother and grand
parents in 1935. The pleasure of possession of these tree,
sures has been shared by the Brice family in frequent ex-
hibits for benefit of the public.
Fraternally Judge Brice is connected with the Mason
IC and Knights of Pythias Lodges. He is a member of the
National and State Bar Associations, and, is President of
Chaves County Archaeological and Historical Society suc-
ceeding Lieutenant Governor Hyram M. Dow in 1937
Sources of Information
Mrs. Mary Evelyn Brice wife of Judge Brice.