Leroy G. Fulgenzi
Born: May 4, 1942 Las Vegas, New Mexico
High School: Las Vegas High School
College: New Mexico Highlands University
High School
• 1960 State Singles Finalist
College
• 1961 Frontier Conference Championships Singles champion; 1961 Frontier Conference Doubles Runner-up
• 1962 Frontier Conference Championships Singles champion
Professional– Leroy who coached for 34 years at Robertson High School winning eleven individual titles and one team championships. LeRoy grew up looking up to his older brothers, Gene, who was a singles and doubles state champion in 1948 and 1949 and Charlie, a former state quarterfinalist who is now deceased. However, with both his brothers far from Las Vegas, LeRoy would get pointers from sister, Dora, who despite being unable to play competitively at the high school level, did make a name for herself competing in community events. “I grew up with my sister – I give her the credit for making me a competitive tennis player.”. First family of New Mexico high school tennis could easily be the Fulgenzi family from northern New Mexico. For the last 3 generations they have graced the tennis courts at state tournaments.
It is important to place these accomplishments in the context of a less than ideal tennis environment: cold winters and springs in Las Vegas and the lack of first-class courts. Jokingly referring to “barrio tennis,” LeRoy Fulgenzi asserted that “this isn’t the country club,” but you could do just as well as any country club tennis player. The legacy of the Fulgenzi’s as a tennis family has a promising future. The secret is to start them young and plant the seed of hard work, discipline, and love of the lifetime sport.
• Las Vegas Robertson High School 1964-1998
o Spanish teacher for the entire 34 years
o 1972 Team state title
o 4 team State team runners-ups – 1995,1996, 1997, 1998
o 1987-1998 District Team Championships
o 1966-1998 State Tournament appearances
o Coached 11 Individual State Championships
o Coached 11 Individual State Runner-ups
Honors
• 1981 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Tennis Coach of the Year
• 1982 & 1985 Nominated for National High School Tennis Coach of the Year
• 1984 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Tennis Coach of the Year
• 1985 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Tennis Coach of the Year
• 2003 New Mexico Highlands University Hall of Honor Inductee – Tennis
• 2006 The Robertson High School tennis courts were dedicated to Leroy
• 1991 & 2007 2-time United States Tennis Association Northern New Mexico Tennis Family of the Year – Leroy Fulgenzi family
• 2007 United States Tennis Association Southwest Tennis Family of the Year– Fulgenzi family
• 2013 Las Vegas City Schools Wall of Honor Inductee
• 2013 Honored by the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame the Fulgenzi Family their “Award of Distinction” award for the family’s contribution to tennis since the late 1940’s.
Community Involvement
• 1975-79 Volunteer for ELKS LODGE of Las Vegas for Junior Athletic Development (Tennis/Basketball) – Coordinating and running tennis community tennis tournaments
• 1966-1998—Las Vegas City Recreational Tennis Summer Programs (Volunteer)
• 1993-Senior Olympics Volunteer Tournament Director for Men’s and Women’s New Mexico Senior Olympic Tennis Tournament
• 2000-2002—Volunteer Tennis Coach at Native American Prep School—started a “grass roots” tennis program
• 2002-2015—Volunteer Assistant Tennis Coach for Robertson High School Boys’ Tennis Team.
Family
• Wife, Roberta Elaine Romero de Fulgenzi, who he married in 1976. She is a Federal Employee employed by the Social Security Administration. Roberta Elaine has been very instrumental in being the support staff and backbone for this family.
• All six sons have been New Mexico State Champions for Robertson High School in Las Vegas, New Mexico
o Garon Fulgenzi – Robertson State Singles Championship: 1984; State doubles championship: 1983;
o Warren Fulgenzi – Robertson State Doubles Championship 1983; WAC doubles and team champion at UNM 1991, 15 Southwest Sectional Championships, 6 National Championships, and one World Doubles Championship, Cardinals Coach 2015-present 6 team State Championships 10 individual State titles, 2-time NM Coach of the Year;
o Juan Carlos Fulgenzi – Robertson State Singles Championships: 1996, 1997, 1998; State doubles championship: 1994. Cardinals coach 2001-2011: four State team and nine State individual titles
o Giorgio Fulgenzi – Robertson Doubles: 2001, 2002 Assistant Cardinals Coach 2003-2013
o Mario Fulgenzi – Robertson State Singles Champion: 2003, 2004; State doubles titles: 2001, 2002 one State team title:2003, Assistant Cardinals Coach 2005-2007 & 2012-2015
o Roman Fulgenzi – Robertson State Singles: 2007; doubles: 2005, three State team titles 2003,2006, 2007, Cardinals Head Coach 2012-2014 four State team championships and five State individual titles, 1-time NM Coach of the Year, Played at NMMI Jr. College and UNM.
• Grandchildren
o Ian – played at Robertson, and APS.
o Warren Jr. – Santa Fe 2012 State doubles champion and Robertson 2015 & 2016 State singles Champion, one State team title 2015, 2 sectional championships,1 National Championship plays at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX;
o Brandee Fulgenzi – Santa Fe 2014 State doubles Champion, Robertson 2016, 2017 State doubles Champion; 2015 & 2018 singles State Champion, four State team titles 2015-2018, 5 sectional championships. 5 National championships, plays at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX
o Lauren Fulgenzi – Robertson 2016, 2017, 2018 state doubles champion, 2019 State Singles Champion; three State team titles 2016-2018;
o Nico Fulgenzi – 2018 doubles state champion:
o Jaci Fulgenzi – Robertson 2015 State doubles champion, four State team titles 2014-2017, plays at Western New Mexico University;
o Jenese Fulgenzi – Robertson 2015, 2018 doubles state champ, five-time team 2014-2018,plays at NMMI Jr. College;
o Gabriela, Aurelia, Sofia, Roman, and Zoe
• Brother, Gene – Las Vegas High State singles title: 1948, 1949; state doubles titles: 1948, 1949; four Singles Frontier Conference Championships two doubles Frontier Conference Championships at NMHU