NFHS CITATIONS AWARDED TO PAIR OF NEW MEXICO EDUCATORS
The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) is proud to announce that two distinguished New Mexico education leaders have been selected to receive the prestigious National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Citation Award. Former NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez and former New Mexico High School Coaches Association Executive Director Dr. Thomas “Buster” Mabrey will be honored by the NFHS this summer in recognition of their outstanding service, leadership, and lifelong dedication to high school athletics and activities.
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. Citations for state high school associations, coaching, officiating and performing arts will be presented June 28that the annual NFHS Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Sally Marquez’s career stands as a testament to her steadfast commitment to students, educators, and the enduring values of education-based athletics and activities.,” said NMAA Executive Director Dusty Young. “The NFHS Citation honors not only her lasting impact on athletics and activities in New Mexico, but her national influence in shaping opportunities for young people. This recognition is richly deserved.”
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 believed deeply in the power of coaching to change lives. He was more than an administrator – he was a mentor, motivator and tireless promoter of those who dedicate their lives to guiding young people. Through his leadership, the NMHSCA became not only a strong and supportive organization but also a respected advocate for the coaching profession in New Mexico and beyond. His legacy lives on through the countless coaches he mentored, the athletes they continue to inspire, and the association he strengthened. That 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.
In recognition of his lifelong service and his unwavering advocacy for coaches, Mabrey was posthumously inducted into the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 2025. His impact on coaching – and on the people who make it their calling – will never be forgotten.
“Buster was a tireless worker for the coaches and kids of New Mexico, and this would have meant the world to him,” said Lori Mabrey. “His family and I appreciate the recognition of all of his hard work.”
