Tim Garcia

Tim Garcia picked up a tennis racquet at the age of five but it would not be until the age of 15 that he began to play tennis competitively. Tim learned his trade at the Albuquerque Tennis Club where, during that era, many young athletes decided up on tennis as their major sport.

Tim remains one of UNM’s most prolific and decorated tennis players. He was the only UNM player to participate in the NCAA Championships all four years of his college career. Garcia earned All-America honors in 1976 and reached the semifinals of the singles draw at the NCAAs. He faced Stanford’s John McEnroe at the 1978 NCAA Championships. Garcia won the Western Athletic Conference singles title in 1975 and ’76 and was a four-time all-conference selection.

Garcia credits his success to many Lobo standouts that were inspirational in his young career: Phil “Bubba” Lindsay, Tim and Ted Russell, Van Hill and Tony Bull. After college, Garcia volleyed his way to the professional circuit for three years, reaching a ranking of No. 130 and No. 54 in international doubles. He played in the U.S. Open, French Open and the Australian Open.

Following a successful tennis career, Garcia followed in his father’s legal footsteps and earned a law degree from UNM. He became a highly respected attorney and has contributed to his communities in a variety of ways. Garcia eventually became a Judicial District Court Judge in Northern New Mexico.