Blanco White

George W. “Blanco” White held the position of Administrator of Varsity Athletics and Intramural Sports at the University of New Mexico from 1937 until 1957. He was also the Assistant Dean of the College of Education and the Director of Physical Education and Health. As Assistant Dean of the College of Education, White was termed the general manager of Athletics. His job involved seeing that there was more income at the gate than there was outgoing in the athletic budget, determining ticket prices, telling the fans where to sit and who sits where, and in general, keeping his finger on the pulse of the entire athletics program.

During his years at the University of New Mexico, he strived to bring the athletic program into prominence. He endeavored to engage the services of coaches with winning records and those with excellent academic qualifications, and also that necessary spark to motivate young minds.

All positions in the athletics department were under his leadership. As Assistant Dean of the College of Education and Director of Physical Education and Health, all academic and athletic personnel served under his direction. This included the position of Athletics Director that was held by Roy Johnson. Johnson held that position from 1931 until 1942. He served in World War II until the end of the conflict in 1945. During the war years, George White maintained that position until Johnson returned.

It must be stated that the athletic staff under the direction of George White kept the Lobo athletic program in national prominence by everyone helping each other in the coaching of all sports. When push came to shove, Blanco did what he had to do to keep the Lobos viable. When Benny Sacks was called to active duty, Willis Barnes took over the basketball program. One year later, White took over the Lobo basketball team and won the 1943-44 Border Conference championship.

White always felt that the winning of the Border Conference championship was his ultimate coaching memory. When needed, White performed all duties. He served as an assistant football coach in 1940. In the absence of Johnson, he not only coached the basketball team, but also the track team from 1943-1945. After the war, he coached the tennis team from 1953 until his untimely death in 1957 at the age of 60.

George White graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1914. He enrolled at the University where he was the football captain in 1917 and also participated under the direction of Roy Johnson in track and basketball after Johnson joined the faculty at the University in 1920.