A one-man peace movement hits Roswell

MARIFRANK DAHARB
MANAGING. EDITOR

March 8, 1998

Many Roswellites had the opportunity to visit with a stranger in town Friday; Rudy Stolfer. 48, of Washington. Pa. He was hard to miss; he was pulling a cardboard coffin covered in toys and stuffed animals and other memorabilia he has found along America's highways en route from Ochoco National Forest In Oregon to Washington, D.C. He is spreading peace and the word of God as he travels.

Stolfer left Oregon in July ad has covered some 1,700 miles on foot and has lost more than 40 pounds. He was heading up North Main Streets with Portales his next goal.

He was a little concerned about the weather reports and hoping to beat anything bad. He had just come down from Ruidoso where he spent his coldest night since leaving Oregon. He said he slept "toasty" in his sleeping bag but his water bottles were frozen when he awakened.

His quest is to stop all wars and as he meets people during his walk he hands out yellow sheets outlining his goals and small biblical books to spread the word of God.

He stopped at the Daily Record for a short visit but couldn't wait for the photographer because of his concerns about the weather. "If you put something in the paper, though," he said, 'would you send a copy of it to my parents, please? I'd like them to know what their other son is up to." Photographer Bill Ross caught up with him much further up North Main.