Open Announce

Jim Stevens

Jim Stevens’ family moved from Panama to Albuquerque in 1950. At Albuquerque High, Stevens excelled in anything he put his mind to – student government, academics, and, of course, athletics.

At UNM, Stevens lettered in swimming, diving, boxing, track and field, and wrestling. His competence and comedic ability in swimming and diving landed him the nickname “Fish.” On the mats, Stevens was undefeated, a conference champion, and the first UNM wrestler to compete at the NCAA Championships.

After graduation, Stevens embarked on a world journey. As a foreign service officer, he traveled to far away and exotic countries developing athletic and youth recreation programs. He participated in the Pan American Games as a wrestler and a diver. He was an assistant wrestling coach at the 1972 Summer Olympics and helped coach Olympic swimming champions Cathy Carr and Janet Ely. Stevens was also a competitor in several international events, winning medals in three different events – swimming, track and racquetball – at the 1993 World Senior Games.

Perhaps Stevens’ most noteworthy cause in Lobo athletics was the Save Our Sports campaign in 1987. He oversaw fundraising efforts to ward off the elimination of baseball, wrestling, women’s basketball and women’s swimming.

Stevens, and his sister, Charlotte Stevens Ferguson, inducted in 1999, are the first brother-sister duo in the Hall of Honor.