© by Ray Sanchez 02.23.14
I mean, I’m talking Don Haskins-size love here.
Charles Hill, a member of the Miners’ statistics crew, nominated Ms Adams for induction this year and presented glowing letters of recommendation from (hold your hat) Mayor Oscar Leeser, state representative Joe Pickett, U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke and Miners men’s basketball coach Tim Floyd plus video interviews from such folks as UTEP athletic director Bob Stull.
They spoke not only of her extraordinary coaching ability but of her devotion to education and her involvement in community and charity affairs.
MAYOR LEESER summed her up like this: “Coach Adams motivates her team not only on the court but off the court … She has given back to her community ever since she arrived in El Paso … Coach Adams has been recognized nationally and El Paso should now recognize her locally by inducting her into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.”
I could go on and on with praise from others but you get the idea.
Her nomination was received with applause by the usually stoic El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame board of directors. Dare I say she’s a shoo-in for induction?
LARRY RODRIGUEZ was among three other El Pasoans nominated Monday. He is president of the UTEP Miner Fan Club and has been hailed as “a great asset to UTEP athletics.”
In a letter of recommendation, UTEP athletic director Bob Stull wrote, “Larry is a great person and a great Miner. He pours his heart and soul into UTEP athletics. He constantly bends over backwards to accommodate us. We are fortunate to have him as a fan and supporter.”
Retired football coach Mike Price wrote, “Larry Rodriugez is the ultimate Miner fan … He has given great support to several generations of UTEP players and coaches.”
GABE NAVA, a former Austin High School basketball star who went on to an outstanding career at University of New Mexico, was a third person nominated. Former coaches and members of his family spoke not only of his superb talents but the fact he was a role model not only as an athlete but also as a person. Sadly, he passed away at a young age and is listed for induction in the posthumous category.
FRED LOYA, another outstanding supporter of athletics, was the fourth El Pasoan nominated. Because of technical problems, no resume was presented but one high school coach after another stood up at the meeting to praise his contributions to sports.
“He was always there to contribute to whatever we needed and never asked for anything in return,” one said.
THE NEXT meeting of the Hall, and the last at which nominations from the public will be accepted, will be held March 3 at 5:15 p.m. at First Christian Church, 901 Arizona Avenue.
Voting for induction will be held March 17 at the same place. The induction banquet will be held April 30 in the Signature Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Nine nominations in all have been received so far. More are expected at the next meeting.
If you think someone else should be a candidate for induction, get off your duff, get up a resume and present it to the board of directors on March 3. Otherwise, don’t complain if someone you think is worthy is left off the nomination list