THE MAYOR OF GOLDEN, NEW MEXICO

Actually, the first town we visited on the Turquoise Trail between Albuquerque and Santa Fe was Golden, New Mexico.  Driving through the "town" I spotted a yard that was filled with junk and had a sign by the road that declared, "Open. Free Information of Golden."

I drove by but about a mile down the road I made a u-turn and parked in front of the property, planning to take a few photos before moving on.  The yard was cluttered with hundreds of "artifacts," aka junk, that had been accumulated over a period of many years, including scores of bottles that were hanging from wires stretched across the yard.  In addition, there were a number of "structures" in the yard that even I could have built to the same level of quality.

It was then that I heard a voice calling to me.  It turned out to be the self-declared "mayor" of Golden, Leroy Gonzales.  Here is his card, including his photo that had to have been taken many years previously.

He was more than happy to show us around the property.  Eventually, I asked if I could take his picture.  Here is the first photo, taken next to the door to his "office."  He told me he was holding his "lapels" to signify his position as mayor.

Here is a better, closeup shot that I turned into a black and white.

I loved how my camera was able to pick up the detail in his beard.

I checked out the claim that he was the mayor of the town.  Sure enough, the Wikipedia entry for the town, which has a population totaling 37, lists Gonzales as "(de facto) mayor."  So there you go.

John