Margaret McKinney/Highlands University
Former Highlands Coach Don Gibson speaks during Homecoming 2013.
Las Vegas, New Mexico — The Don Gibson Cowboy Classic golf tournament Sept. 20 tees off at 8 a.m. at the Highlands University Gene Torres Golf Course in Las Vegas.
The university’s Alumni Office sponsors the event, which is during Homecoming 2014. The proceeds build the Don Gibson Endowed Scholarship, which is earmarked for Highlands University scholar athletes with good academic standing.
The format for the golf tournament is a four-person team scramble. The cost is $125 per person, and includes a cart, range balls, meals, prizes and gifts for the players.
Gibson was a beloved football and basketball coach at Highlands from 1953 — 1964. The successful coach also taught physical education courses and took the helm as athletic director.
“Coach Don Gibson had a positive influence on the education and lives of hundreds of students during his distinguished tenure as a coach and educator at Highlands,” said Jim Mandarino, Alumni Office director. “With this scholarship, we help scholar athletes achieve their educational goals, which Coach Gibson always stressed. The scholarship also continues to honor his legacy at Highlands.”
Gibson once said: “Coaching is teaching in its highest form — teaching not only of athletic skills, but ethics, morals, sportsmanship, loyalty, courage, cooperation, poise, self-control, confidence and the will to win.”
Gibson was the homecoming parade marshal in October 2013. The Coach Don Gibson H-Club Athletic Hall of Honor was dedicated during homecoming, with his former players traveling from across the country to honor their coach at the ceremony.
Joseph Long, B.A. biology 1960, established the Don Gibson Scholarship in 2010. Long played the gridiron for Gibson.
“The strong support from friends of Highlands has helped us achieve endowment status quickly for this scholarship. We are very thankful,” Mandarino said.
For more information about the golf tournament and to pay in advance, contact Mandarino at 505-454-3199 or alumni@nmhu.eduTeams may also register the day of the tournament.