ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Bobby Gibbs, New Mexico High School Coaches Association Executive Secretary, will officially retire on Friday, February 29, 2008 from the position he has held since 1974. Thomas Mabrey, former Piedra Vista High School Athletic Director will officially take over on Monday, March 3.
Bobby’s responsibilities over the last 34 years have included the administration of seventeen high school All-Star games and events, the organization of the annual coaches’ clinic, membership services as well as all awards programs.
When Bobby assumed the role of Executive Secretary the New Mexico High School Coaches Association had 306 members; today the total membership of the NMHSCA exceeds 2,000 coaches.
For his devotion and contributions to youth and sports in the City of Albuquerque and State of New Mexico, he was inducted into the Albuquerque/ New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was inducted into the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor and National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002.
Bobby Gibbs began his educational career in 1961, when he joined the Highland High School faculty and coaching staff. In 1970 Bobby became the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albuquerque. He accepted the additional responsibility in 1974 of serving as the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association. Bobby left the Boys and Girls clubs after twenty-nine years, in the fall of 1999. At that point, he began to devote his time fully to the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.
Bobby was born in the little mining town of Madrid, New Mexico and has been a life long resident of the State of New Mexico. Educated in Albuquerque, he graduated from St. Mary’s and accepted an athletic scholarship to play basketball at the College of St. Joseph’s. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1960. In 1963, he received his master’s degree from the University of New Mexico.
Bobby and his wife Ginny of 46 years, have two children (Lesly Stern and Rob Gibbs Jr.) and four grandchildren.
For more information on this announcement, please contact Robert Zayas, NMHSCA Director of Communications, at (505) 977-5386.
