1986

One of the greatest athletes to attend UNM, Ralph Bowyer demonstrated his all-around talents in football, basketball and track in the 1930s.  He was all-Border Conference in consecutive seasons in football (1934-35) and basketball (1934-35 and 1935-36).

  After his collegiate playing days were over, Bowyer was a record-setting coach at Carlsbad High School.  His teams won eight state titles in football, three in basketball and two in track.  Bowyer also served as director of athletics at New Mexico Highlands before retiring in 1973.

Dolzadelli starred as a halfback and linebacker from 1925-28 for head coach Roy Johnson.  He played on the 1927 team that finished 8-0-1, the school’s only squad to go undefeated.   Dolzadelli was a co-captain in 1928 when he was named to the All-Southwest team.  He was the first Lobo football player to participate in a postseason all-star game, the 1928 East-West Shrine game.

A 1929 UNM graduate, Dolzadelli worked at his alma mater for 36 years (1936-72) in numerous roles:  veteran’s adviser, assistant dean of men, freshman coach, intramural director, athletics business manager and assistant athletics director.  He was instrumental is the development of the school’s athletics facilities on South Campus, including University Stadium and The Pit.

Dolzadelli was honored with a lifetime membership in the Lobo Club upon his retirement from UNM in 1972.

Marie Jenson Hays’ toughest decision was which sport to choose.  From 1932-36, she excelled as an all-star intramural athlete in whatever sport was in season.

Hays was just as busy when not playing sports.  She served as sorority president, and on many student government councils and academic honoraries.  After graduating from UNM, Hays enjoyed a lifetime of service in public schools as a teacher, counselor, sponsor and coach.  She worked at Albuquerque Valley High School for 25 years until her retirement in 1979.

In 1981, Hays was the first woman selected to the New Mexico Activities Association Hall of Fame.

Maybe more than any person, Roy Johnson was responsible for the early growth of Lobo Athletics.   Arriving in Albuquerque via train in 1920 following a superb athletic career at the University of Michigan, the man nicknamed “Old Iron Head,” set about the dubious task of building collegiate-level athletics facilities, many times doing the hard labor with his own hands.

For 40 years, Johnson coached every men’s sport UNM offered while teaching physical education.  A decorated veteran who served in World War I and World War II, Johnson was the Lobos’ director of athletics from 1920-49. 

In 1957, while still on the faculty, Johnson received one of the University’s most distinguished honors when the new gymnasium – now Johnson Gymnasium – was named in his honor.

No. 43 is a football jersey number that will never be worn again.  Lured out of Waterloo, Iowa, by head coach Dick Clausen in 1956, Don Perkins wasted little time in establishing himself as a premier football player.

Perkins became New Mexico’s second All-America for his play in 1959, finishing first in the nation in kickoff returns (34.7 yards a return) and eighth in scoring with 74 points.  The highlight of the season was a three-TD performance against Air Force, including a 64-yard reception for a score, in the Lobos’ thrilling 28-27 comeback victory.

A three-year letterman (1957-59) and a two-time All-Skyline Conference selection (1958-59), Perkins was a versatile performer running, catching, and returning kicks. He racked up 3,466 all-purpose yards in his career.

Perkins went on to star with the Dallas Cowboys from 1961-68.  A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Perkins rushed for 6,217 career yards and is a member of the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.  He was inducted into the state of Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.