Buster Quist

H.L. “Buster” Quist, the Lobo athlete, brought honor to UNM as its first track and field All-American. Quist, the student, brought honor to UNM as a Rhodes Scholar candidate.

Throwing the javelin for the Lobo track team, Quist was the undefeated Skyline Conference champion from 1957-59. He finished second at the NCAA Championships in 1958 and 1959 with heaves of more than 238 feet. Besides participating in track, Quist also found time to play football, baseball and ski at UNM. And, he graduated with honors in History.

His international honors included national AAU competition against Japan and Russia, gold medalist at the Pan American Games and Sullivan Award nominee, given to the nation’s top amateur athlete. Quist twice (1960 and 1964) set his sights on making the U.S. Olympic team, but fell short each time.

Quist began making working in the life insurance business in 1960. He worked for his father then opened his own branch office for a major insurance company. In 1969, Quist formed his own company, Insurance Consultants Limited.

When his Olympic dreams squelched, Quist bought a set of golf clubs and worked his way to a 3 handicap. From 1968-74, he hosted the Buster Quist Invitational in Albuquerque.