Vlachakis, Gus, 1898-1983.

Constantine "Gus" Vlachakis was born in 1898 in Smyrna, Turkey. He arrived in America around 1910. Vlachakis fought for the United States in World War I. He was wounded while serving in Europe and was sent to El Paso, Texas to recuperate. Vlachakis first arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1921, but left shortly after his arrival. He returned in 1923 to begin truck farming. He joined the Las Cruces City Parks Department in the 1940s after almost 20 years as a truck gardener. He worked for the city of Las Cruces until his retirement in 1969. During his years with the city, he became the Superintendent of City Parks and helped plan several parks, including Pioneer and Apodaca. Vlachakis liked to share his knowledge and experience with plants. He wrote an advice column for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He was buried in the Las Cruces Masonic cemetery on April 29, 1983.