Tom Gruber

Memorial service for Tom Gruber, 64, of Ruidoso was Wednesday, December 22, at the First Baptist Church in Ruidoso. Tom passed away Sunday, December 19, 2010 in Ruidoso. He was born November 29, 1946 at Carlsbad, NM.

Tom graduated from Eunice High School in 1964. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1970 and a Master of Arts degree in 1992 from the University of Phoenix.

Coach Gruber began his coaching career in Portales, NM in 1970. In 1975 he received his first head football position at Eunice High School winning three state championships and one semifinalist. In 1979 he moved back to Portales as the head football coach where they won their first state championship. They won again in l981 and were state runnersup in l983. In 1985 he was hired as coach at Carlsbad High School where he remained until retirement from coaching in 1992 and retired from teaching in 2006.

He married Sandy on June 30, 1967 at Eunice, NM. He is survived by his wife Sandy of Ruidoso daughter, Angie Lleshi and her husband Louis of McKinney, TX two brothers, Harry Gruber and his wife Mid of Meridian, ID and Dick Gruber and his wife Ann of Edmond, OK.