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Homer Uribe, 73, left, and Leslie McCormick, 56, point out the features of McCormick s long lost high school class ring Monday at McCormick s home. Uribe, who found the ring under the carpet of his house, finally returned it to McCormick last week after 30 years of searching for its owner.

LAS CRUCES - Leslie McCormick received quite the surprise on her 56th birthday.

A stranger appeared on her doorstep to return her 1973 Mayfield High School class ring, which she lost soon after graduating - around 37 years ago.

"It's just unbelievable! What a day, my friend told me to go buy a lottery ticket!" McCormick said.

In 1980, Homer Uribe found her ring while replacing the carpet in his home. He said he contacted the organizer of Mayfield High School reunions, but with no luck. Uribe then called McCormick's mother, the first McCormick in the phone book, but she thought it was scam and hung up.

"I just put the ring away and decided to wait for her next class reunion," Uribe said.

After seeing a recent article published by the Sun-News on a class ring finding its way home after 13 years, he decided to try again, and reached McCormick's mother with success.

McCormick has no idea where she lost the ring and doesn't remember visiting Uribe's home in San Miguel about 20 miles away.

Christine Rogel can be reached at (575) 541-5424.


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