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Ray Maxey, once one of New Mexicos greatest high school football players, an All-American quarterback from Rio Grande High School in the mid-1960s, has died.
Maxey, 80, died on July 4.
He was one of a kind, said his wife, Nikki.
He was humble, kind ..
he loved to help everyone.
Maxey said she was unsure what caused her husbands death, and added that he had recently been diagnosed as having vertigo and was having consistent dizzy spells.
Ray Maxey was a dominant athlete in the South Valley, a multisport star who played football, basketball and baseball.
He later played football for New Mexico State and Western New Mexico.
He was a hell of an athlete, said Gene Victor, a baseball teammate of Maxeys at Rio Grande.
Maxey was an all-state running back for Rio Grande his junior year, then transitioned to quarterback as a senior.
He was also an all-state baseball player for the Ravens.
Parade Magazine named Maxey to its high school All-American football team following his senior season.
He played both football and baseball for the Aggies, before leaving to serve two years in the Army.
In the late 1960s, he played running back for Western New Mexico, and was a small college All-American for the Mustangs.
But baseball was still a big part of his life, and he was even once invited to try out for the Cincinnati Reds.
After graduating from college, he moved to Phoenix, where he became a schoolteacher and coach.
Maxey moved back to Albuquerque in 1982, where he began a 30-year career with the City of Albuquerques Parks and Recreation Department.
He started to coach adult softball teams for both genders.
He was also actively involved in training and maintaining officiating for the city, and was responsible for assigning officials to local leagues and tournaments.
He eventually returned to the fields himself, as a prominent senior softball player in the mid-1990s, where, unsurprisingly, he enjoyed much success.
Maxey was still playing in a senior league twice a week, his wife said.
He enjoyed further success as a coach, leading one senior womens team to a title at the Tournament of Champions.
He spent many years coaching senior softball squads.
Maxey was also a regular at womens senior games even up to his death, Nikki Maxey, herself a softball player, said.
I cant even find words to say how good of a man he was, Nikki Maxey said.
He was one of a kind.
Services for Ray Maxey who was born in 1945 in Lubbock, Texas are scheduled for Monday, at the New Hope Full Baptist Church, 1901 Pennsylvania St.
A viewing is scheduled from 10 a.m.
to noon, with services from noon to 2 p.m.
A reception follows from 3 to 6 p.m.
at the Balloon Fiesta Park Event Center.
Maxey is survived by his wife, Nikki, and their son, Damon.
He has four living children from a previous marriage: Ray, Jacquelyn, Henry and Gabriella.
He was a great man, well respected, said Victor, who had a friendship with Maxey dating back over 60 years.
I dont think he ever met anybody that didnt like him.
..
Everybody loved him.
He had a magnetic personality, people were drawn to him.
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal.
You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @JamesDYodice.