UNM Athletic Director Rudy Davalos is among the 101 most influential minority figures in sports, according to the May 5 issue of Sports Illustrated.
Ranked 94 on the list that includes such recognizable people as golf great Tiger Woods and tennis phenom Serena Williams, Davalos said that while he is honored by the recognition, he has never been one to use his minority status to his advantage.
"While I am proud of my heritage, I've always put more emphasis on my achievements as a person and haven't let the color of my skin influence my decisions or impact my successes," Davalos said.
A San Antonio, Texas native, he is the son of Mexican-born parents and is one of only six athletic directors named to the list.
The article states that "a new generation of African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans has risen to positions of power on and off the field," and that the people on the list are "reshaping the sports industry and opening doors through which others will follow."
The article cites Davalos' supervision of 21 sports programs, the distribution of a $20 million annual budget and successful fundraising capabilities that bring in more than $6 million a year as reasons for his success at UNM.
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Davalos said his being named to the list brings recognition to UNM because of its diversity and that he hopes it will show young minorities that there are a growing number of opportunities for them to make an impact on the world of sports.
"UNM provides a welcoming atmosphere for all cultures that welcomes and appreciates diversity in ability and experience," Davalos said. "This is a compliment to the entire UNM community, which is striving to break down cultural barriers and make the University the best it can be."
He said he owes his successes to the pride and honor instilled in him by his parents, who raised him to be proud of who he was during the 1950s, when it wasn't easy being a minority in his home state of Texas.
"I was brought up to love this country, and while I am certainly aware of diversity, I judge myself and others by their actions and the strength of their character, not the color of their skin," Davalos said.
This is not the first time he has been recognized for his attempts at increasing diversity in a university setting. He was named to the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame during the 1970s for a number of reasons, including successfully hiring the first black women's basketball coach in the highly segregated Southwest Conference in Texas, Davalos said.
The Sports Illustrated article states that even a few years ago there would not have been 101 influential minorities in sports. The story in the current issue comes 35 years after the magazine published a groundbreaking report on race and sports.
"I'm sincerely proud of this honor, it is a compliment to all the people who have worked with me over the years and made all my successes possible," Davalos said. "I hope my being named to this list will serve as an inspiration to young people of all backgrounds to pursue their goals."
