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The first high school in New Mexico’s biggest city naturally was able to scoop up plenty of honors early in state championship history. But Albuquerque High just kept right on winning – especially in one sport.
Care to take a guess? It’s below in the Roll Call of State Championhips…
Boys Basketball
1998…Seventh title for Albuquerque High under coach Jim Hulsman after beating Alamogordo 43-35 in Class 4A championship
1995…Led by center Kenny Thomas, Bulldogs upend Clovis 71-59 to cap a 23-3 season record
1993…Class 4A finale comes down to two Albuquerque schools and its AHS that walks away with the trophy following a 56-52 win over Highland
1990…Sparkling 25-1 campaign closes with Bulldogs beating La Cueva 95-82 for state bragging rights
1984…A tight one for the Class 4A blue trophy with Albuquerque High squeaking past Sandia 57-56
1977…Old rivals AHS and Highland hook up for the championship: Bulldogs 55, Hornets 49
1971…Coach Jim Hulsman returns Albuquerque High back to basketball prominence, guiding ‘Dogs to 81-80 win over Hobbs in 4A finale
1946…Bulldogs outlast Forrest by a 35-26 count and Albuquerque again rules over New Mexico in basketball
1937…Led by coach F.M. Wilson, Albuquerque High takes care of Lordsburg 41-22 to finish 25-1 season
1925…After two-year absence, Bulldogs nip in-town rival Menaul 15-14 to win third state championship
1922…Coached by Addison Moore, AHS puts finishing touches on 18-2 season by beating Las Cruces High 26-24 in title game
1921…New Mexico’s first prep championship of any kind goes to Albuquerque High after Bulldogs edge Alamogordo 22-20
Baseball
1950…Albuquerque High tops the state baseball scene for a tenth time in 11 years after beating Mountainair 12-5 in championship
1948…Perfect 17-0 season for Bulldogs, who beat cross-town foe St. Mary’s 12-5 in finale
1947…Second title for Albuquerque High under coach Jack Rushing as the ‘Dogs blank Santa Fe 11-0
1946…Seven straight state crowns as AHS records 11-0 shutout over Socorro
1945…Last title for coach F.M. Wilson when Bulldogs punish Santa Fe 23-5 in state championship
1944..Albuquerque High continues to dominate the state prep baseball season, this time winning it all and ending the season 15-1 overall
1943…’Dogs prevail over Santa Fe 12-4 to wrap up four consecutive titles
1942…Santa Fe provides the opposition in the championship game, but it’s still AHS that’s on top
1941…F.M. Wilson guides Albuquerque to the baseball crown – first of five titles on the diamond for the coach
1940…First championship in New Mexico high school play goes to Albuquerque High and coach N.G. Tate
Tennis
Albuquerque High representatives are no strangers to success at state tennis tournaments. Highlighting the list of champs are three-time winner Bobby Stamm (1936-38) and two-time champion Walter Bellman (1925-26) – to go along with fellow victors Ernest Lovato (1959), Stanley Potts (1943), Dave Sims (1939), Bob Singer (1935), Clark Childer (1934), Bob Chacon (1931), Allen Stamm (1928) and John Reidy (1927). AHS has had a girls champ too: Maria Ruiz-Fabrega proved to be best at the 1998 Class 4A state singles tourney.
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And now, a word from our Sponsor…
“Ole!” greets drive-through customers from the speaker box.
If that’s the case, it can only be one business: Taco Box.
From frijole burritos to Spanish fries to pig-in-a-panchos, and quite nearly everything in-between, the restaurant has been serving up its eclectic menu for 40 years.
According to owner Tom Martin, the number one seller is the simple-and-tasty frijole burrito while tacos, chalupas and cheese sticks follow closely in popularity.
A popular side item are Spanish fries, a Taco Box-invented title for another potato-based munchie (any guesses?). Martin says his restaurant has only occasionally ventured into making regular french fries and the attempts have ultimately always been futile with the Taco Box customer base.
“I always joke that I don’t make french fries so I can help keep McDonald’s in business,” Martin says.
Other items also remain popular to an extent even though not officially on the menu board anymore – a testament to the loyalty of the typical Taco Box consumer.
The Mexi-Burger was on the menu back in the early 1980s and still gets ordered today. By those in the know, at any rate.
“There’s probably at least a dozen different items over the years like that,” Martin says. “We took it off, just because of space, but we still make ‘em. We probably sell as many as we did when they were on the menu.”
Martin lists breakfast tacos, frijole tacos, guacamole tacos as other such “underground” items. And that’s not to mention the vast array of drink combinations, utilizing the different soft drinks and flavorings, that have actually never been listed on the big board at Taco Box.
Martin, raised in Cleveland and a graduate from Cornell University in New York, ventured west after college and tried his hand with the Taco Box brand. He took over Taco Box on June 1, 1970.
Remembering his first foray into Mexican food, Martin has an oft-repeated story with some variation or another.
“I never had a taco until I was 21. I remember having a mild green chile taco and I thought I was going to die,” Martin recalls.
After having a tastebud-adjustment and following countless tacos served to his customers at Taco Box, it’s safe to say one thing about the guy who originally thought he’d be in the Land of Enchantment for “a couple of years.”
Well Tom, you’re a New Mexican now.
