NFHS Honors New Mexico Pair with Citation Awards
Sunday in Salt Lake City, Utah, former NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez and former New Mexico High School Coaches Association Executive Director Dr. Thomas “Buster” Mabrey were honored by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for their outstanding service, leadership, and lifelong dedication to high school athletics and activities. The NFHS celebrated Marquez and Dr. Mabrey each with a prestigious NFHS Citation Award at the annual NFHS Summer Meetings.
An award designed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the NFHS, state high school associations, athletic director and coaching professions, the officiating avocation and fine arts/performing arts programs, the NFHS Citation is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school athletics and performing arts.
“Throughout her career, Sally Marquez has exemplified an unwavering dedication to students, education, and the lifelong impact of education-based athletics and activities,” said NMAA Executive Director Dusty Young. “Her work serves as a powerful reminder that when students, education, and character-building activities are prioritized, lives are changed for the better.”
Sally Marquez (Section 6)
Guided by a lifelong commitment to education and athletics, Sally Marquez steered the New Mexico Activities Association through more than a decade of growth and cultural change, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of young people along the way.
Marquez joined the NMAA in 2004 as an associate director and was promoted to assistant executive director in 2011. She then served as executive director from 2012 until her retirement in 2024.
Under Marquez’s leadership, participation in NMAA programs increased, and sportsmanship initiatives expanded. Those efforts included the Compete With Class Initiative and the Two Strikes Sportsmanship Bylaw, which emphasized accountability and respect in education-based athletics.
Beyond her role in New Mexico, Marquez’s influence extended nationally. She was on the NFHS Board of Directors, representing Section 6, from 2019 to 2023 and elected president of the NFHS for the 2022-23 school year. Marquez also contributed to several NFHS committees, including the Equity Committee, Volleyball Rules Committee, Basketball Rules Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Summer Meeting Advisory Committee, NFHS Appeals Committee and the NFHS Foundation Board of Directors.
Marquez’s educational career spanned 40 years. Prior to joining the NMAA, she held positions in New Mexico, Virginia and Texas, including mathematics teacher, dean of students, assistant principal and director of personnel.
A graduate of Manzano High School in Albuquerque, Marquez was a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico, where she was a four-year member of the women’s basketball team, and her master’s degree from Virginia Tech. Marquez was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Dr. Thomas Mabrey (NFHS Coaches Association)
Dr. Thomas “Buster” Mabrey was a lifelong champion of New Mexico high school athletics – and one of the state’s most passionate advocates for coaches and the coaching profession. His sudden passing on December 30, 2024, marked the end of a remarkable 16-year tenure as executive director of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA), during which he transformed the organization and elevated the voice, visibility and value of coaches across the state.
Mabrey graduated from Hobbs (New Mexico) High School in 1985 and served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Aspro, a nuclear submarine stationed in Hawaii. After his service, he returned to New Mexico and began officiating basketball while working in the oil fields. His coaching career began in 1992 at Mayfield High School, where he was part of three football state championships and led the track team to a district title.
Mabrey later served with the New Mexico Activities Association and, in 2006, became the athletic director at Piedra Vista High School. In 2008, he stepped into his most influential role as executive director of the NMHSCA. During the ensuing 16 years, he dedicated himself to strengthening the profession of coaching – developing programs to support professional growth, organizing statewide clinics and all-star events, and building partnerships that provided new opportunities for coaches and athletes alike.
Mabrey’s legacy is carried forward by his wife, Lori Mabrey, who served on the NMHSCA Board of Directors and continues to uphold the values that defined his life’s work. Mabrey was posthumously inducted into the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 2025.
“This award reflects both his enduring commitment to New Mexico’s students and his broader influence on education-based athletics and activities across the country,” said Young. “It is a truly deserving tribute.”
