2009

Roger Cox is very popular! If you live in Albuquerque, you might think you know him. His name is displayed on numerous signs planted on many corners and featured in front of many real estate development sights around town.  But many do not know the real Roger Cox, outstanding Lobo athlete, business leader and entrepreneur.

Roger started his athletic career at Farmington High under the tutelage of Coach Lou Cullen, a 2004 UNM Athletic Hall of Honor inductee.  Cox was a standout three-year letterman in football, playing both running back and defensive end.  His strength, competitiveness and intelligence distinguished him early on as a team leader on the 1952 Lobo team that allowed just 46 points, the fewest in college football.  Cox was a first team All-Skyline Conference defensive end as a senior.  He also earned three letters in track for coach Roy Johnson where he excelled in the 100 and 220-yard dash, threw the shot put and ran in the relays.

For those who know Roger and have followed his successful business career upon graduating from UNM and fulfilling his military obligations, it was obvious that the same qualities he exhibited in athletics have sustained him throughout his professional life.

In 1965 he formed Roger Cox and Associates, a full service real estate firm so successful that he has won many honors including “New Mexico Realtor of the Year” for both Albuquerque and the entire state of New Mexico.  He sat on many prestigious national and state boards and commissions, served on non-for profit committees and become one of the state’s leading real estate and property management developers.

Cox managed such projects as the Sunwest Bank building, First Interstate Bank building and the Las Colinas Subdivision in Las Cruces.  He developed property in Farmington, and the La Jara Land development in the Manzano Mountains.  He is most recently praised for his crown jewel, one of America’s premier golf course developments, Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club.

Roger has been generous of both his time and support to UNM.  He has served as President of the Student Lettermen’s Club, the Alumni Lettermen’s Association, Vice President of the Lobo Club, and is a continuing member of the Tom Popejoy Society and a longstanding supporter of the Lobo Club. He has organized and sponsored many athletic events to further UNM athletics like “Fill the Stadium,” and the sponsoring of numerous golf tournaments.

It’s almost epidemic! Hoosiers landing in Lobo country is not a new phenomenon.  Long before coach Steve Alford stepped into the Land of Enchantment, 18-year-old Rene Matison of Roosevelt High School in Gary, Ind., joined the ranks of coach Hugh Hackett’s lean and mean sprint machine at the University of New Mexico. 

Recommended by Bernie Rivers, a star Lobo sprinter also from Hoosier country, Matison proved he was one of the best sprinters to grace University Stadium. 

To prove how speedy this young man was, Matison unofficially tied Bob Hayes’ 100-yard world record at 9.1 seconds.  Unfortunately, at the time, a third clock was unavailable to make it official.  But you get the idea of how valuable Rene was to his team.  The Lobos’ 440-yard relay and mile relay teams went on to break several school records as well as being the third-fastest collegiate team in history (1966).  Matison was a four-year letterwinner in track and still holds the school record for 60 yards.  He was a two-time All-American in the 440-yard relay and 100-yard dash, finishing fourth at the 1966 NCAA Championships.

As if being one of the fastest track athletes wasn’t enough, Matison decided to go out for football in his fifth year, with a little coaxing from his friends.  Not knowing much about how to play, he caught on quickly…and caught the ball many times as well, scoring several touchdowns for the Lobos in his short season.  With his lightning speed, Rene was drafted to play for the Dallas Cowboys.  Modeling after Bob Hayes, Rene had a chance to understudy the iconic legend on his own field.  Serving his country in the U.S. Army, Matison continued to play football for the Berlin Bears, receiving the Army-American Spirit Award in 1970. 

Knowing all too well how being involved in sports complemented his education, Matison passed his work ethic on to his children, Mike and Kristan.  They certainly had the genes to become successful athletes in their own right, with Kristan carrying on the Lobo legacy as a UNM sprinter.  But with his background in special education, Rene realized that student-athletes often need more than just their athletic abilities to get them by.  As coordinator for Zest for Excellence in Athletics, or ZEAL, Rene helps African-American athletes excel on the field and in the classroom.  The program pairs freshman student-athletes with mentors, who are successful African-American professionals and former athletes.

Matison continues to be involved with Lobo track and field, serving as founder and president of the UNM Track and Field Club.  When indoor track once again came back to Albuquerque, after the ‘glory days’ of the 1960’s, Rene was in the thick of coordinating team reunions to bring back that excitement from years ago – speeding headfirst to the finish line.  Rene and his wife, Deborah, moved back to Albuquerque from San Diego, where Rene had been active in community programs for youth development.

Marion “Dutch” Niemants has been very influential in UNM athletics and was also one of the oldest living alumni lettermen – age 94 – at the time of his induction.  He lettered in football and track and was a member of the ski team as an athlete and trainer.  Dutch was also a coach, avid supporter and helped start the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Club.

Niemants was born in Albia, Iowa, in 1914. He stayed there through his first year of college at Albia Junior College.  After an outstanding year, he decided to transfer to Los Angeles Junior College.  Once again after a successful year of football, he finally transferred to UNM in 1938 to continue his amazing football career and begin a loyal connection with the University of New Mexico.

Dubbed “the Flying Dutchman” by Albuquerque sportswriters because of his speed and impact on the Lobos during a time of leather helmets and no faceguards, Niemants packed a sturdy 190 pounds and used it very astutely.  Described as a “dependable fullback” and “UNM’s main offensive threat,” it made Dutch a prime candidate for the 1939 NFL Draft where he was picked up in the 18^th round by the Detroit Lions.  He returned to UNM after one season in the NFL where he proceeded to take his speed and talent to the track.  He also excelled on the ski slopes as a founding member of the ski team and the manager/trainer.

Niemants graduated from UNM in 1941 with a degree in Physical Education. After graduation he continued to give back to the University as head coach of the freshman football team.

Niemants’ life included much more than UNM.  He was commissioned as a Captain in the Air Force and served three years in England during World War II.  Upon returning from the Air Force, Dutch began officiating football games around the state.  He realized a need for an organization to provide high schools and colleges with referees that had properly been trained in the rules so he helped found a state organization for officials. While officiating, he also began working at Standard Oil of California in Gallup for eight years before being transferred to Texas. He would eventually retire from California Standard Oil in 1972.

Chuck Roberts’ letters of recommendation for induction into the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Athletic Hall of Honor were outstanding.  Larry Jasper wrote, “Chuck was considered to be a pioneer and trailblazer for the black athletes at the University of New Mexico.”

Recruited out of Davenport, Iowa, to play quarterback, Roberts enrolled as a freshman in 1956 and finished his career in 1959.  Chuck was indeed a gifted and talented athlete and possessed an accurate, strong throwing arm.  Though probably remembered for his contributions as quarterback, Roberts enjoyed playing defense and contributed to UNM victories on both sides of the ball.  He was honorable mention All-Skyline Conference in 1958 and the Golightly Award winner in 1959 as UNM’s top defensive player.

Included in his nomination packet was a letter of support from none other than legendary, NFL coach Marv Levy, who was Roberts’ coach at UNM in 1958-59.  Levy devoted a special chapter in his book, where else would you rather be? that provided a historical perspective on football at UNM.  Chuck Roberts played a pivotal role in that history.

Roberts signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams in 1959 but a knee injury kept him from playing professionally.  Roberts’ career after football included teaching and landing a job at UNM with the Dean of Students Office.  He would hold that position for 22 years, eventually becoming the Dean of Students.  Roberts was instrumental in helping establish the Black Studies program at UNM.  He also held responsibilities of mentoring, advising and talking to demonstrators during a time of challenging times in the late 1960s.  Karen Glaser, former Dean of Students and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs noted, “Chuck was one of our most beloved professional staff members. He knew no stranger at the university and he managed to spend quality time with each and every person who came to see him. Not only was he highly regarded by the university community, but also he was an outstanding role model and mentor to the African- American community both on and off campus. He cared deeply for all of our students and was always more than willing to do what he could to help make their college careers and their individual lives a success.”

Chuck put his two UNM degrees to work.  His bachelor’s and master’s in Physical Education prepared him to further many community service boards:  Sickle Cell Anemia, UNM Alumni Association, Goodwill Industries, City Parks and Recreation, Metropolitan Advisory, Albuquerque and state chapters of the NAACP, and Treasurer of the “Jocks Before Civil Rights” athletic group.

UNM skiing coach Fredrik Landstedt and former head coach George Brooks agree on many things, but one is for sure – the induction of 7-time NCAA All-American Kristina Strandberg into the UNM Athletic Hall of Honor.  “Kristina was the type of athlete that every coach wants to have once in their career; highly motivated, highly intelligent, an outstanding teammate and a delightful person,” Brooks stated.

The Swedish-born Strandberg was not heavily recruited to UNM.  Although ranked as a top-10 racer in Sweden, coach Landstedt said, “she came to UNM without any top results and was not expected to be one of our top skiers her first year.”  Kristina achieved otherwise.

Strandberg’s athletic career at UNM was remarkable. She was a 7-time NCAA All-American.  In 2000, her freshman year, Kristina was the national champion in the 15-kilometer Classic Technique.  She was a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, a four-time all-conference skier and a four-year NCAA ski coaches All-American.

While still competing in 2003, Strandberg graduated with a Master of Science in Statistics, and later was admitted into the PhD program.  While working on her doctorate, Strandberg landed a spot on one of the best sponsor teams in the United States, the Factory Team (www.dreamofit.com).  She decided to follow her dream and left her PhD studies.  “Skiing was taking up more and more time and finally it got too hard to combine studying on such a high level with elite skiing. Since athletes do have a “best before date” I figured it was time to go all out,” Strandberg said.

Strandberg now lives in Bend, Oregon, and trains full time with the cross country Oregon crew.  Last year she established herself as one of the strongest female skiers in the nation, winning both long distance and sprint races.  Strandberg won the U.S. Nationals in Fairbanks in March of 2009, but since she does not have U.S. citizenship, she cannot call herself a U.S. champion. Nonetheless, she also earned a spot on the World Cup team last winter, racing for her native Sweden.

Kristina organizes an Olympic ski event in Anchorage every spring.  The event is aimed at children in general, but specifically children who might not be able to try skiing otherwise. The event includes free ski rental for those who need it, ski clinics, games and food.

A quote from former head Ski Coach George Brooks sums it up, “To be a standout among a group of athletes who were all high achievers was quite a task.  What Kristina brought to the table was maturity, leadership and an exceptional work ethic. She led by example and did so always being positive and upbeat.”

Mannie Foster is considered to be one of the finest football players at University of New Mexico.  After a standout career at Albuquerque High, Foster played four seasons (1927-30) at UNM.  He was a guard, tackle and placekicker and earned All-Far Southwest honors four consecutive years.  Foster played on the only undefeated UNM football team (7-0-1 in 1927) and was chosen to play in the annual East-West Shrine game in 1930.

The University of New Mexico Alumni Association named Foster to its all-time team in 1946 at tackle.  Voting was limited to the post-World War I era because it was felt that few potential voters would have seen UNM teams from before the war.  The all-time squad was compiled by Bill Hall, then editor of UNM’s Alumni Magazine, based on voting conducted through the magazine.

Foster played other games at UNM. “It was not all football,” recounts his daughter, Sharon Foster. “Daddy was a member of Kappa Sigma. He had good times at UNM. He helped plant trees in what is now Tight Grove and was on the first airplane trip the Lobo football team ever took.”

After graduating from UNM, Foster taught history at Lincoln Junior High School. He also coached football and track and field and mentored the great Ralph Bowyer.  Foster later moved to teaching history and pursued his love of football as assistant football Coach under Tony Wilson at Albuquerque High.

Prior to World War II, Foster worked for the State Employment Commission. In the European Theatre of Operations he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  He was awarded five Battle Stars and received the Purple Heart after being wounded in combat.

Foster was inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.

In 1974 Foster retired as a personnel officer and employment developer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. After a three and a half year battle with bone cancer, Foster passed away.

• Athletics staff member from 1983-2010, including Director of Media Relations from 1987-2010

• Served as the lead administrator for championship events hosted by UNM (2000-08)

• Name a honorary letterwinner by the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association in 2001

• Started at UNM in 1983 as assistant sports information director

• Named MWC Women’s Cross Country coach of the year as the Lobos won their first MWC title and made their first NCAA Championships appearance since 1985…Lacey Oeding was named MWC Freshman of the Year

• Lobo men tied for 16^th at the NCAA Indoor Championships…Lee Emanuel won the mile while Jarrin Solomon finished fifth in the 400 meters…Emanuel was the MWC Indoor Student-Athlete of the Year…Deanna Young was an All-American, placing 12^th in the long jump

• UNM produced five All-Americans at the NCAA Outdoor Championships

Volleyball

• Third team All-American and Mountain West Conference Player of the Year in fall of 2008

• ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VI second team selection and Academic All-MWC

• Finished third on all-time UNM career kills list with 1,238

• Ranked first in MWC in kills (4.81) and points (5.12) per set, and ranked third in the nation in kills per set

Track & Field

• MWC Men’s Indoor Athlete of the Year after capturing the NCAA mile title with a time of 4:00.36, becoming the first Lobo to win gold at the NCAA meet since 1977

• Capped the greatest year ever by a UNM middle distance runner with a third place finish in the NCAA Outdoor 1,500…bronze medal matched the highest finish ever by a Lobo in the event

• Broke the 30-year-old school record for the first time when he clocked a meet record 3:37.99 in his first 1,500 of the year at the Mt. SAC Relays