Theo Barela

NMS News:

The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors are sad to announce the passing of Board President Theo Barela Wednesday morning. He was serving his second year as president.

Barela went the extra mile to make the Hall of Fame events special for the honorees. He also positively impacted the community in a variety of ways. Barela was a Menual School (1970) and UNM (1975) graduate who was in hotel management since 1975 across the country. He was the director of the lodging committee of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. 

Barela was active in supporting high school and college athletics especially at UNM and Boise State. As President, he had a vision of having a New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame Museum. This year’s 7th Annual NMSHOF Charity Golf Classic on July 28 will be raising money for this project, plus donate to the New Mexico ALS- Lou Gehrig’s Disease Association on behalf of former NMSHOF President Gene Pino. 

The Board will continue working hard to make the Golf Charity Classic and the 49th Annual Induction Banquet Saturday, Aug. 19. 2023, special for the honorees.

There will be a Celebration of Life, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, July 1 in the Lobo Lounge at the Pit.

The Board will be sharing more information on the NMSOF events in the upcoming week.