Robert Ogas
Born: November 24, 1940 Silver City, New Mexico
High School: Western High School – Silver City, New Mexico
College: Western New Mexico University Bachelor’s degree 1959
New Mexico State University Master’s Degree 1968
Administrative Certification 1983

High School
• Played football, basketball, and baseball in high school.

College
• Played two years of college baseball while working toward fulfilling his dream of becoming a teacher and coach.

Professional
He grew up in a home where his parents believed that participating in sports would be the key to keeping their kids out of trouble. A leader, an educator, a teacher, a coach, and a community servant who strives in his lifetime to make a difference for his students, his community, and his state. Because of Bob’s involvement and leadership in athletics, all school-related activities, and community and state programs, his success and influence can best be reflected by the passage below that summarizes Coach Ogas’ career commitment and his passionate belief that all kids will succeed if given a chance. In April 2016, former Mayfield baseball players from 1971 through 1985 held a reunion to honor Bob Ogas. Below are paraphrased excerpts from the combined testimonials that former players Ronnie Frietze, Jimmy Madrid, and Victor Armendariz delivered: Coach started our baseball program by instilling this belief: “NO GOAL IS TOO BIG TO ACCOMPLISH” In the spring of 1971 Coach Ogas started the baseball program with just about nothing. You know you can almost say this was like the movie “McFarland.” Jim White, the high school cross country coach, brought these migrant kids together, showed them how to build confidence, taught them to have goals and dreams, become leaders, and respect others. He showed them that when someone cares and is willing to give others a chance in life with life lessons…. and if YOU strive to be consistent and persistent and overcome obstacles, you will, eventually, reach your goal. This is 100% Coach Ogas! We can remember we had a dress code to abide by, haircut, shirt tucked in, clean clothes, take a little pride in yourself. These are the little things that Coach Ogas did for us to help shape us and make sure we grew up with the best chance in life.

We didn’t have much back then just an old cotton field to play on. You developed good reflexes or walked around with bruises. Practices were fun with all the wind and dust. Coach would drag the field with his Datsun PU. After that we would line up on the first base line and walk to the second base, then third base and pick up rocks till our gloves filled up. Then we started practice.

In 1973, we can remember having a sit-in/protest if you want to call it that. It was because we were having to go to State Finals in Farmington in a school bus. Coach Ogas wasn’t going to have that so he told the principal that we weren’t going unless we got a chartered bus. A few hours later guess what we see driving up to pick us up. That was a valuable lesson in our eyes. For us we respected Coach, as a Leader of our team, even more for standing up for US. Thanks, coach, for that lesson. We ended up losing the state championship game 3-0 to Carlsbad. Who would have known that a bunch of kids from a farming town like Las Cruces would have the opportunity to play in a State Championship Game. Therefore, we recall the movie “McFarland.” It took only three years to build a team of winners through preparation, planning, years of hard work, teaching, learning, dedication, team unity and friendships and most of all respect. We were representing Mayfield High School. This is what built this baseball team of winners and champions and we carry that with us today in our daily lives. Ten years later (1981) – GOAL ACCOMPLISHED! A State Baseball Championship.

As a coach, high school principal, and community leader, no challenge or goal was too big for Bob Ogas to handle. Setting high goals for himself, his kids and parents, his staff, and his Las Cruces Community, he developed a culture in Las Cruces that all kids will succeed – just give them a chance. Creating opportunities, teaching the values of hard work, teamwork, integrity, and trust, Mr. Ogas instilled a competitive spirit that will influence kids, athletic and activity programs, and community and state programs for several years. Under Bob’s leadership, the Mayfield Family was born, was created. The Family includes all current students and past alumni who still to this day consider themselves as part of the FAMILY. In fact, Bob is so well respected in our Las Cruces community and the Family has grown so large that you can drive around and see “Viva Ogas” signs and bumper stickers!
• 1963-64 Hondo Valley High School, Hondo, NM – Business Ed teacher and head baseball, assistant basketball coach
• 1964 to 1966 Las Cruces Public Schools’ Bradley and Lucero Elementary Schools – (Physical Education teacher)
• 1966 to 2004 Mayfield High School
o 1966 to 1985 Business Ed teacher & Coach
o 1966 to 1969 Assistant Track
o 1971-85 Head Baseball
o 1970 Head Track
o 1966 to 1970 Head Cross Country
o 1985 to 1991 Assistant Principal and Athletic Director
o 1991 to 2004 Principal
• 1966-72 High School Basketball Official
• Started baseball programs at Hondo (1963) and Mayfield (1971) High Schools
• 1973 State AAAA Baseball Runner-up
• 1973 to present Started NM Baseball Invitational Tournament
• 1976 Created and organized North vs South All-Star Baseball Game
• 1976 First All-South Baseball Coach
• 1978 to 1984 Organized baseball clinic with NMSU
• 1981 State AAAA Baseball Championship
• 1985 State AAAA Baseball Runner-up
• 1986 to 2005 District 3 AAAA/AAAAA Chairperson
• New Mexico Activities Association Involvement
o Member of Executive/Athletic Committees
o Worked State Baseball Tournament – 5 years
• Spearheaded MHS committee to evaluate athletic facilities for compliance with Title IX

Honors
• 1979, 1981, 1982 New Mexico High School Baseball Coach of Year
• 1994 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Distinguish Service Award
• 1997 Certificate of Recognition by State Board of Education and Governor Johnson
• 1998 New Mexico Music Educators Association Administrator of the Year
• 1998 New Mexico Foreign Language Educators Administrator of the Year
• 2002 Honored with the NMSU College of Education Distinguished Alumni
• 2004 New Mexico Activities Association Distinguish Service Award
• 2004 Dedication of Robert Ogas Baseball Field at Mayfield High School
• 2005 Inducted into the New Mexico Activities Association Hall of Fame
• 2009 New Mexico High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
• 2010 Western New Mexico University honored him as the Distinguished Alumni Family in Education
• 2011 Inducted both Bob & Olivia into the Alumni Hall of Fame
• 2012 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor and Pride
• 2012 North-South Baseball All-Star Game was named Bob Ogas North vs South All-Star Baseball Classic

Community Involvement
• 1965 to 1969 Conlee Little League Baseball League Director
• 1975 to Present Breakfast Optimist Club – Member
o 1983 President
o 1988, 1989 District Service Award
o 2004 Optimist International President’s Award
• 1984 to 2000 Field of Dreams Task Force
• 2006 to Present Las Cruces Roadrunner Car Club Member
• 2009 to 2011 Mayor’s Sports Facilities Evaluation Task Force
• 2011 to Present Member of Mesilla Valley Alumni Association
o 2016 President
• 2016 Member of the NMSU Alumni Association Board
• Re-Learning NM Committee – 1990’s
• North Central Accreditation Committee – 3 years
• Visioning Committee – St. Albert’s Catholic Church
• Superintendent’s Search Committee – Las Cruces Public Schools

Family
• Married Olivia in 1962
• Two beautiful daughters
• Two grand kids.