2003

George J. Friberg contributed significantly to UNM as an athlete and in his exemplary professional and civic career.   Friberg earned three letters in football (1958-60) and was captain his senior season.  He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962 and a master’s in 1983.

As a UNM quarterback Friberg was quoted as a “cool play caller, a good passer, operates like a veteran, and has a talent for leadership.” Those words remain true today, as anyone who knows George can attest that he is genuine, caring, honest, inspirational and has a knack for leading.  Not much has changed since his playing days at UNM, as Friberg has managed to lead some of New Mexico’s brightest engineering and manufacturing enterprises.

Friberg has been involved in business endeavors for most of his career as an engineer, manager and executive. He has been a founding member of several entrepreneurial enterprises specializing in venture funding and technology business development. Friberg is best known for his contributions to our community as he is active in national and local advisory groups and boards for education, industry, charitable, and faith-based organizations.  Friberg admits that one of his faults is that he cannot say “no.”

Friberg has been honored with the Lockheed Martin Nova Award, the UNM Alumni Association Zia Award and the UNM Regents Award Medal.

Pro bowler Dana Miller-Mackie is a graduate of Sandia High School and the University of New Mexico.   She participated in basketball, volleyball, softball, track and field and lettered in field hockey.  In addition to her sports addiction, Dana spent many days and nights dancing and performing with the UNM Chaparrals Dance troupe.

So how did a multi-sport letterwinner turn into a world-class bowler?  Dana attributes her interest and eventual success to both of her pro bowler parents, although she credits her mother, Dee, for taking her to many bowling tournaments after she graduated from UNM.

Dana has a brother, Mike, who is also a professional bowler.  Dana met her future husband, Australian native Steve Mackie, while he was trying to recruit a “lefty” for an Aussie and American women’s tournament.

Dana has had many accomplishments in her professional life.  She won two U. S. Championships and 16 Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) titles, and has been ranked in the top-10 nationally. Dana is no stranger to Halls of Fame either. She was inducted into the Indian Hall of Fame (1982), the Women’s International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (1999) and the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame (2001).

Dana, husband Steve and brother Mike have all had a hand in the successful transformation of Tenpins and More bowling center in Rio Rancho, N.M. It has been her dream to promote the sport of bowling and own a thriving business. Dana balances her time at the bowling center offering advice to young bowlers and coaching people of all ages and walks of life.

Mike Prokopiak’s kick was like money in the bank for the 1952 Lobo football team.  A 215-pound quarterback and specialty placekicker, Prokopiak played on Dudley DeGroot’s squad that was acclaimed “the best defensive team in the U.S.” by the wire services.

While UNM had a tremendous defensive unit in ’52, the offense could muster only 119 points in nine games with Prokopiak’s golden toe accounting for a team-leading 24 of those.  In three games, he made a major or crucial difference:  a 14-13 win over Texas Western; 15-0 against Denver and a 3-0 decision against Colorado State.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree from UNM in 1953, Prokopiak signed an NFL contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.  He booted two field goals before being called to duty for the U.S. Air Force in the middle of the ’53 season. 

His Air Force career, both in the U.S. and Europe, was devoted to coordination and development of athletic programs at 50 bases in Germany, following duty at White Sands Proving Grounds.  Prokopiak, on lend-lease from the Air Force, coached Turkey’s Olympic basketball team in 1957 before returning to Germany. Prokopiak was discharged from Holloman AFB in 1971 with the rank of Major.

Prokopiak has remained active in his support of Lobo athletics, serving on the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s board and the Hall of Honor Selection Committee.

No one can think of UNM football without remembering Stan Quintana, a standout on both sides of the ball.  In 1998, Quintana was selected to UNM’s All-Century team as a defensive back.

After an outstanding career at Santa Fe High, Quintana helped UNM become Western Athletic Conference football champs in 1963 and tri-champs in 1964.  A three-year starter at quarterback and defensive back from 1963-65, Quintana was WAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1964 and he led the Lobos in interceptions in 1964 and ’65.  Following his senior season, Quintana played in the East-West Shrine game and the College All-Star game.

Quintana was drafted by the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets from the AFL.  He played for the Vikings for three seasons.

Quintana served three years in the Marines 2^nd Combined Action Group in Vietnam where he received the Profile of Courage Award from the New Mexico Vietnam Veterans Association.

Quintana returned to UNM as an assistant coach from 1981-86.  He worked with receivers and helped the 1982 Lobos to a 10-1 record and a No. 3 national ranking in total offense at 469 yards a game.

Bob Stamm’s name is synonymous with the construction of many prominent public buildings across the state of New Mexico, but Stamm has contributed far more than that. He is most known for his building, his altruistic endeavors and volunteering his time to numerous causes to make the quality of life better for all New Mexicans.

From the age of 10, Bob had a tennis racket in his hand, and a vision for the future. A native New Mexican, Stamm enrolled at UNM and played tennis, ran track, and was on the first UNM ski team. He graduated from UNM in 1942 with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.  In 1957, he was named a partner in Bradbury Stamm Construction Company and has worked as President, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and now, CEO emeritus.

The Albuquerque business leader and lifetime UNM supporter championed Senate Bill 14 (SB14) to its ultimate enactment.  The 2002 bill provided endowment funding to all of the state’s four-year institutions. The Endowment for University Excellence provides funding for chairs, professorships and lectureships. The state funds are matched with business and private funds that, in turn, fund endowments.

Bob has been involved with UNM in a variety of capacities. One such story was in 1982 with the installation of lighting for the nationally televised football game against Hawaii. With only eight days to solve the problem, Stamm was contacted and his company, Bradbury and Stamm, was responsible for bidding, removing old lighting, transporting new lighting and installing a new system at University Stadium.

Bob served on several Governor appointed committees, was a member of the Commission on Higher Education, and won the UNM Regents Recognition Medal and the coveted UNM Zimmerman Award.  He has also been involved with numerous professional engineering associations and has led many efforts in philanthropic support for needy causes, and he still manages to play some tennis.

Bobby Lee was a high school track star (Alamogordo), a two-sport lettermen at UNM, state senator, rancher, chairman of the state Racing Commission, raiser of champion quarter horses, sculptor and painter.

As a student at the University of New Mexico, Lee was a three-year letterman (1952-54) in football.  In 1953, he led the team in rushing, punt returns and kickoff returns.  Lee ran two punts back for touchdowns that season, which is still a school record.  He also won the Skyline Conference 100-yard dash and long jump championship for the track and field team.

The eldest son of a pioneer New Mexico ranching family, Lee served two terms as the president of the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association, as chair of the New Mexico Racing Commission, the New Mexico Quarter Horse Association and the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association.   He served as a New Mexico state Senator from 1965-72 and was given the prestigious Award of Distinction from the UNM Alumni Association.

While continuing his activities as a cattle rancher, racehorse breeder, farm owner, family man and public servant, Bobby soon began to explore another interest – art. He started with contemporary western paintings and many of his works soon began to sell throughout the country. His “cowboy art” was featured in many nationally prominent galleries, and in 1979, he won second place in the Saturday Evening Post’s nationwide artists competition.

Bobby Lee passed away in 1993.

Very few UNM coaches could be recognized for coaching four different sports: baseball, swimming, football and golf, and still have the energy and dedication to manage the “new” UNM Golf Course while maintaining teaching status as a Physical Education instructor.  One such legend is George “Stormy” Petrol, who coached at UNM for almost 40 years.

Fondly nicknamed “Stormy,” by his players, Petrol was known to be a strict disciplinarian with a gruff voice and a fiery personality.  His unique idiosyncrasies, perhaps superstitions, created a reputation for Stormy that every athlete knew.  His baseball training mandates are legendary – no ketchup, peanuts, snacks or candy, but plenty of fried chicken was acceptable.

Petrol graduated from Albright (Pa.) College where he was mentioned for All-American honors in 1928.  He later played professional football for the Providence Steamrollers in the East Coast League.  Petrol came to New Mexico in 1938 where he was principal and head football coach at Espanola High.  He joined the UNM football staff in 1942, helping the Lobos make two Sun Bowl appearances.

In 1945-46, Petrol formed UNM’s first swimming team.  The Lobos finished second in the Border Conference.  When the “new” University Golf Course, now North Course, opened, it was Petrol who coached the team.

By his own admission, Petrol’s greatest enjoyment and satisfaction was coaching the UNM baseball team from 1947-65.  The 19-season run is the longest in program history and included three Skyline Conference division titles and the Lobos’ first NCAA postseason appearance in 1962.

There have been many coaches who contributed to building the foundation for various athletic programs at UNM, but few had the tenure that George “Stormy” Petrol enjoyed.

• Sports Editor of the Albuquerque Journal from 1950-59

• Executive Director of the Lobo Club from 1971-76

• Also worked in local radio (KDEF) and television (KOAT)

• Lobo historian