Elvis Presley
January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977

Joyce Graves has a wall dedicated to Elvis Presley memorabilia in her Gallup, NM home. Though a fan of Elvis, Graves denies being a "crazy" fan and believes he did pass. Thursday, August 16, 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death. The "King of Rock N' Roll" would have been 72 on January 8th. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

30 YEARS LATER [Illustration by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

GALLUP — As tens of thousands descend on Graceland to recognize the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ death, local residents remember the “King of Rock ‘N Roll” in a more subtle manner.

Wil Foster is an Elvis impersonator who travels the Navajo Nation to perform gigs at small get-togethers. He sports artificial side-burns, a white jumpsuit with a blue bird design and the whole nine yards.

Foster remembers his first encounter with Elvis as a nine-year-old boy. He watched the film “Girls, Girls, Girls” at the Apache Twin in Farmington.

“Elvis has been my idol ever since I was little,” Foster said. “... He was someone I could look up to.”

Foster can’t recall how many Elvis albums he owns, but knows it’s a lot. One of his favorite songs is “American Trilogy.” In fact, Foster closes each show with his rendition of the beloved classic.

“It kind of brings them down memory lane,” Foster said of his audience members.

Foster doesn’t have any plans for today, but likes to reminisce with other Elvis fans whenever he can.

“His songs have always inspired me,” the Fruitland, N.M. resident said.

Joyce Graves, a devoted volunteer for the American Cancer Society, shares Foster’s adoration for the king.

Graves has collected an array of Elvis memorabilia from her days as a Kindergarten teacher at Roosevelt Elementary where she played Elvis Christmas music in her classroom throughout the holiday season.

Her students knew her fondness for the star and showered her with various Elvis gifts throughout her career. And today, the memorabilia is proudly displayed on a wall in Graves’ multi-purpose room of her house.

Elvis stamps, clocks and photographs adorn the single wall; however, Graves favorite items are postcards sent to her by her mother.

“Everything has been given to me,” Graves said of her collection.

She said Elvis even taught her a valuable lesson about life.

Graves was teaching in Ft. Defiance when Elvis visited Albuquerque for a concert. She decided not to attend because it was a “school night.” Graves was never able to attend an Elvis concert prior to his sudden death.

“My motto after that was if there is something I want to do and can afford it, I’ll do it,” she said.

For Christine Diaz, her love of Elvis is a family tradition passed on by her grandmother Lola Diaz.

“She was in love with him,” Diaz said of her grandmother.

When she was 5 years old, Diaz created a scrapbook devoted to Elvis with hand-drawn pictures.

“It’s hilarious to look at now,” she said.

To this day, she collects Elvis memorabilia and owns about 150 items. She displays some of them at her desk at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital.

Diaz has yet to visit Graceland, but plans to make the voyage during her lifetime.

“I will visit Graceland. I will go there,” Diaz said emphatically.

Today, she’s most looking forward to watching a duet between Lisa Marie Presley and a recorded track of her late father that’s planned in honor of the 30th anniversary of his death.

“I think that’s awesome that she gets to sing a duet with her dad, even though he’s not here,” Diaz said.
Though hundreds of miles from Graceland, local fans will remember their idol and his accomplishments in their own way.

And in true Elvis fashion, Foster ended his interview with a rousing ‘thank you, thank you very much.”