AlamogordoTownNews.com Sports History The Reign of Coach Ralph Tate 1960 Football, Track- Don Batie & Ray McDonald

The Reign of Coach Ralph Tate

1960 brought a change in leadership of the Alamogordo track and field program. The new program leader was Coach Ralph Tate.

Coach Tate had a connection to the Alamogordo school system, via his college friend, Alamogordo Golf Coach Billy Aldridge. Both were alumni of Oklahoma State University, both were competitive and avid golfers; (competing in many tournaments together and against each other) and both were drafted to the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Neither played in the NFL instead; Aldridge pursued his passion of Coaching Golf and Tate followed his passion into Coaching Track & Field.

For a brief time, Tate coached in Alamogordo for the 1960/61 Track & Field Season, while Aldridge had a long career in Alamogordo as a recognized winning coach. More to follow on Coach Aldridge, the most successful golf coach in Alamogordo history, in a future release.

(Coach John Ralph Tate Factoid)

John Ralph Tate was born Jan. 10, 1921, in Coleman,

to John Clifton and Susie (Thompson) Tate. He was the youngest of six children, which included sisters, Lottie, Lucille and Lela and brothers, Cleve and Grover.

Named an All-American in 1943 while at Oklahoma A & M, he qualified for the NCAA National Championships but opted to join the army instead. While at Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Ga., he broke the record for the camp obstacle course by 25 seconds, getting an advantage by leaping the 16- foot tank trap.

Serving as a second lieutenant during World War 2, Ralph was a rifle platoon leader in the 83rd Infantry division landing on Omaha Beach as part of the D-Day invasion. Wounded three times during the war, he received a Purple Heart with two Oak Clusters.

He returned to Oklahoma A & M and in 1946 had his best athletic performances despite his 3 significant war wounds. He ended his career winning eight Missouri Valley Conference Championships and was named president of the Oklahoma A & M Student Association.

Ralph was drafted by the Green Bay Packers but decided to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Coach Ralph Higgins, and become a coach.

He went on to coach high school football and track at Oklahoma City Central, Woodward, Stillwater and Durant, where his 1957 team won the state championship. He later coached at Alamogordo, N.M., Caldwell, ID and Meridian, ID, before returning to Stillwater as assistant to coach Higgins with the track and cross-country programs at Oklahoma State University.

Tate became Oklahoma State University's head track coach in 1968 and for the next 16 years he directed OSU to prominence in the world of collegiate track and field.

His Cowboy cross- country teams were back -to-back Big Eight Champions in 1972 and 1973 and earned him the title of District 5 cross-country Coach of the Year for both years.

In 1982, Ralph was inducted into the OSU Track and Field Hall of Honor and was called the most beribboned track athlete of the first half century at Oklahoma State. Coach Tate was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oklahoma State high school track meet in 1999

and was inducted into the OSU Athletic Hall of Honor in May 2007.

Heading into his final season at OSU, he had coached 34 Big Eight Conference Champions, eight league relay champions, two NCAA champions and an Olympian. Tate retired in 1984.

The 1960 season would prove to be a season that fielded several medal wins for the Tiger Athletes. There were several members of the various squads, of note, which would have colorful stories in adulthood or later in life. Coach Tate was big on athletes competing in multiple sports while under his direction. He made significant changes to their training routines from Football to Track & Field and Cross Country. He understood mechanics, fundamentals and discipline. He also had an eye for talent.

Beginning with football, he restructured the varsity team and had two scrimmage games against alumni that 1960 season. The first being August 27, 1960.

The 1960 Football team.

The 1960 Alamogordo Football Varsity Team from left to right front is Don Luce, Jim Jasper, Ronnie Clever, Mike Sullivan, C. Doug Essex, Catlin Arnold, James Gant. Back row are Russell Smith, John Lee, Ray McDonald and Fred Paz. This was Coach Tate’s starting lineup for the Alumni game and most of the season.

The District 3A Competitions were held in Las Cruces, New Mexico, May 10th, 1960. This was an exciting event for Alamogordo and the district with 6 track records broken and 7 first place medals going to Alamogordo. Two records were broken by the Alamogordo Tigers. 

Coach Ralph Tate assumed the role of track team lead this season and made quite a district impact from the prior years.

Alamogordo placed 2nd place in the district with a total of 100 ⅚ points. Las Cruces places 1st with 132 ⅓ .

Bayard Cobre came in 3rd with 47 points.

• Ray McDonald, James Gant, Roy Kilgore & Ed Salas, 1st Place, One Mile Relay, 3:33.85 (Broke State Record), followed by Gadsden at 3:33.9 minutes. former record for the mile was set by Western with a time of 3:35.3 minutes.
• Don Batie Alamogordo bettered his own 1959 Pole Vault record of 11’ 11” to vault a 12’ - 6”. He held the 1959 season record of 12’ -9 ¾”
• Ray McDonald took the title or placed in several events at districts to include…
  • 1st place in discus throw at 144” 10¾”
• 3rd place in the 12lbs. Shot Put distance of 47”-3”
• 4th place in Broad Jump at19’-5”
• He also ran in the mile relay team.
• Arthur Woods, 1st Place, Broad Jump, 21”-½”
• Neil Simmons, Arthur Woods, C.B. Anderson & Fred Eckert, 1st Place, One Mile Medley, 3:49.2
• Moore, 3rd Place, Javelin, 159’ 6½”
• 5th Place, 100 Yard Dash, time of11.0
• Wiseman, 3rd Place, Broad Jump, 21’ -5”
• Rumsey, 2nd Place Pole Vault with a 11’-6”
• Ray McDonald, James Gant, Roy Kilgore & Ed Salas 440 Relay 2nd Place with a time of 44.5
• Simons, Woods, Anderson, Ecker, 880 Yard Relay, time, 1:34.6
• Simons, Woods, Anderson, Eckert, Medley Relay,1st Place, f3:49.2
• Neil Simmons, 3rd Place, 220 Yard Dash, 24.0

The Alamogordo Tiger team stood out in the 1960/61 athletic season. 

The coaching staff defined the team as “extremely great” as was freshman Ray McDonald. McDonald began with a successful football season. Per the sports editor for the Alamogordo News; “he then went to basketball and expressed himself.” Successfully, we might add.”

1960 State Track & Field Results & Don Batie

1960 State competition Don Batie made history for Alamogordo when he raised the Pole Vault standard by one inch with a state record and a win in the competition for a 1st place medal with a 12’-07.75” vault. He had four attempts at 12’-10” but missed them, though not necessary for the 1st place medal. He had the competition wrapped up when he made his final 3 jumps, as required by the rules.

Controversy sparked, during the event when one of the pole attendants did not let the pole free fall on Batie’s second jump. The pole dislodged the bar after Batie had cleared it. He was awarded a fourth jump, something never seen at a state competition or seen since.

Don Batie medaled in multiple competitions around the state during his high school and college careers. While in High School at the White Sands Competition of 1960, he beat his own state pole vaulting record at a 12’-9.75 performance.

Don Batie went on in adulthood to have a successful career in athletics at California State University

Chico, California. He served as Men’s Soccer Coach – 1967-1995, Assistant Track Coach – 1967-1974, Associate Athletic Director – 1989-1994 And Athletic Director – 1995-2002. Don Batie retired in 2002 after completing his seventh year as director for the University’s Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports program. His name was synonymous with men’s soccer at Chico State.

(Don Batie Factoid)

During his tenure as athletic director, Don oversaw several major projects to completion, including Nettleton Stadium, University Soccer Stadium, University Softball Field, and new seating and flooring in Acker Gym. Don also was instrumental in moving the athletic program into the California Collegiate Athletic Association and starting the athletic scholarship program at Chico State. Don served five years on the Executive Council, two years on the Executive Board of Directors, and was president of the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2000-2001.

Prior to his position of director of athletics, Don served as associate athletic director for six years, aiding with athletic administration and department fundraising.

Don has always had a love affair with sports. He started in youth sports at age six and continued with a phenomenally successful high school and college-playing career. He was an All-State running back in high school football and won the state championship in the pole vault both his junior and senior years, breaking the state record each time for Alamogordo, New Mexico’s Tigers.

Don accepted a track scholarship to attend the University of New Mexico where he set the school and conference record in the pole vault. Don suffered a career ending knee injury his junior year that turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it brought him back to the sport he really loved, soccer. He played two years on the UNM soccer team and aided the team during his graduate year under the guidance of coaching great, Dr. Frank Pansy.

Before stepping down as Chico State’s head soccer coach in 1995, Don had been coaching soccer since 1964 when he was an assistant at the University of New Mexico.

He served as head coach and head track coach at College of Santa Fe in 1965 and 1966 prior coming to Chico State.

In 1967 he was hired at Chico State as the head soccer and assistant track coach, a role he performed through 1974. He compiled an impressive record of 326-153-45 in 28 seasons as the Wildcats’ soccer coach. Chico State won 15 conference championships during his tenure and went to the NCAA tournament 12 times. His teams went to the Final Four on four occasions.

At the time of his retirement, Don had the third most wins among all NCAA Division II men’s soccer coaches. His coaching efforts and talents have not gone unnoticed. He recorded his 300th collegiate career victory in 1993 and was presented with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Letter of Commendation in 1994. Also, as one of the co-founders of Chico Youth Soccer League, Don was instrumental in getting youth soccer started in the North Valley.

In the seventies Don took a leave of absence from Chico State to coach professional soccer. He coached the San Antonio Thunder of the North American Soccer League during the 1975 and 1976 seasons. Don was fortunate to coach several world class players including England’s Captain Bobby Moore who was one of the best in the world. One of the highlights of Don’s career was when Pele gave Don his game shirt after San Antonio beat the New York Cosmos in 1976.

The 1960/61 Track & Field season would end with controversy with Alamogordo losing its head coach and suddenly losing a star athlete who was a promising junior.

April 16, 1961 Alamogordo News leaked a story that Ralph Tate had been interviewing and an offer was on the table for him to move to Caldwell Idaho as head coach. Caldwell had a very reputable athletic program that has prevailed in excellence for decades. 

Coach Tate denied any interest in the job at Caldwell in a statement saying he was not interested in a position outside Alamogordo. Tate claimed he had just paid a visit to Caldwell earlier in the month and the visit was not around a job.

On May 22, 1961, the Alamogordo News reported that  Coach Tate resigned effective at once. Then on May 26th, 1961 The Idaho Free Press reported that Coach Tate had been appointed and accepted the position of Head Track & Field, Football and Athletics Director of Caldwell High School.

Alamogordo News May 22, 1961 Tate Resigns.

Coach Tate’s tenure at Alamogordo, though short lived, demonstrated the impact a coach could have on the school’s athletics programs in setting a tone of winning across a spectrum of sports. His strong visibility, activism and participation in golf and other events made him very visible and public and as such garnered community support and attention.

Idaho Free Press, May 26, 1961 An Athlete Of Such Promise For The Tigers

The Alamogordo community was surprised with the sudden departure of Coach Tate, they were equally surprised by the loss of their sophomore star athlete Ray McDonald.

McDonald had broken multiple records in track and field at the district level, achieved success at state competitions, labeled a most valuable player in football and basketball; then suddenly news broke he would not be back his junior year. What happened to Ray McDonald? That would appear to be a mystery to many locals.

News soon broke, Ray McDonald “followed Coach Tate to Idaho.” Speculation and rumors abounded. Had Tate recruited McDonald to go with him? Was there some longer- term packages deal that Tate had negotiated to get McDonald a college scholarship down the road? Was there something else? No one really knew. Tate however understood the art of “spin” long before political correctness was ever a thing.

An article came out in Sports Illustrated, titled
A Husky Reign dated 9/21/1964 that demonstrates Tate’s “art of spin”
and attempts to explain Ray McDonald’s appearance at Caldwell High School in Caldwell, Idaho.

Sports Illustrated, A Husky Reign, 9/21/1964…

“Circumstances that give the University of Idaho potentially the best college fullback in the country are related directly to a day three years ago when Coach Ralph Tate left Alamogordo. High School in New Mexico to take over the high school team in Caldwell, Idaho.

Tate was happy to come to Caldwell but sad—so sad—to leave behind a big, fast fullback named Ray McDonald. McDonald was equally heartbroken to see his coach go. So, came registration day at Caldwell High School, and surprise, surprise, there was Ray McDonald standing in line. The lines in Tate's face were merged into one titanic grin.

They stayed that way for two seasons as McDonald became All- Idaho fullback. Then Ray McDonald graduated to

the University of Idaho and Coach Dee Andros. "In my 14 years of watching high school athletes I never saw a better college prospect," says Andros. Andros might have added that McDonald is so big (6 feet 4, 230 pounds) that he is rarely stopped by as few as two tacklers.

Little ripples of alarm have been emanating from every school Idaho plays in the next three years. Against Washington and Washington State, freshman McDonald bucked more than 200 yards. He isn't likely to Hunk out either. Only a C student in high school and a struggler his first semester at Idaho, McDonald confounded himself and everyone else by making an even B average last semester. He did it by confining non-football activities "strictly to the books and music." After college, he wants to play pro ball. Several scouts already consider him one of the nation's best running backs.

No other sophomore in the West is so much the core of his team as McDonald, but others come close... ”

We can only speculate as to the conversations that were had between Tate and McDonald prior to Tate’s departure.

What is known is Tate was a skilled and award-winning coach.

McDonald was a skilled athlete across many sports. He had an amazing college athletic career setting multiple records in track and field. McDonald was timed in the 100-yard dash at

9.9 seconds and was a first-team All-American. He threw the shot put and discus and was a national-class hurdler on the Vandal track team. Of course, he also had an outstanding football career that led to his draft into the NFL and the history books of the NFL.

(Ray McDonald Factoid)

McDonald was born in McKinney, a segregated suburb of Dallas. After years in McKinney, he began high

school in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and then moved to Caldwell, Idaho, after his sophomore year. A three-sport star for the Cougars for two years, he graduated from

Caldwell High School in 1963. At 6 ft 2 in (1.88

m) and 220 lb. (100 kg), he was a high school All-American and was compared to NFL great Jim Brown.

McDonald enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1963 and his family moved north from Caldwell to nearby Lewiston. On the mandatory freshman team his first semester, he led the Vandals to convincing wins over the freshman teams of Washington (32–18) and Washington State (36–0). (Freshmen were ineligible for NCAA varsity participation until the early 1970s.) McDonald missed the first three games of his sophomore season after tearing his Achilles tendon in a pick-up basketball game in late June. As a speedy fullback for the varsity as a sophomore, he was dubbed "Thunder Ray" after his first Battle of the Palouse game, the first Vandal victory over neighboring WSU in a decade. (Idaho repeated over the Cougars in Pullman in 1965 for the first time in forty years, and would've swept three straights, but lost a late lead in the Moscow mud in 1966).

As a senior in 1966, he led the nation in rushing with 1,329 yards, capping it with 255 yards in his final game. At an imposing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and 248 lb. (112 kg), he was the dominant player in the Big Sky Conference, and was the leading rusher for Idaho in all three years of eligibility (1964–66), averaging over 100 yards rushing per game for his collegiate career. He rushed for 36 touchdowns and 2,916 yards in 27 games played as a Vandal, an average of 108 yards per game.

McDonald was timed in the 100-yard dash at 9.9 seconds and was a first-team All-American. He threw the shot put and discus and was a national-class hurdler on the Vandal track team.

McDonald played both offense and defense in the East–West Shrine Game, as well as the piano at Shriners Hospital, and saw significant playing time at fullback in the Senior Bowl the following week.

He was selected in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, the 13th overall pick, a personal choice by owner Edward Bennett Williams. He signed a three-year guaranteed contract for $100,000. The NFL had only recently integrated all its clubs by the time

of the first joint AFL-NFL draft in 1967. Controversy around McDonald gave his team pause. However, any rumors about McDonald were mitigated by the unanimous loyalty and respect from his teammates. Washington drafted him with the No. 13 pick, two selections ahead of the Vikings’ Alan Page and four spots before Oakland nabbed Gene Upshaw.

In 1968, he was arrested in Washington, D.C. on controversial charges. His career was cut short and by 1969 he was out of pro football.”

McDonald seemed to have controversy follow him throughout his life. His appearance as a great athlete at Alamogordo High School breaking records across many sports, then his sudden departure and reappearance with Coach Tate in Caldwell. A college career that was outstanding in athletics, but his real passion was piano. An NFL career during turbulent political times. At the time, the Washington Redskins boasted one of the NFL’s most diverse locker rooms. In 1966 Washington’s roster was made up of about 20% black players. In ’67, Ebony magazine wrote, “The Skins have 16 Negroes, more than any other NFL club and a fitting sequel to the boasts of ex-owner George Marshall that the club would never use Negro players.”

But even with Washington’s inclusivity there was controversy, McDonald was in a new world—the NFL was a big departure from the bubble of Moscow, Idaho, in which he had thrived.

During the rookie talent show at Washington training camp in 1967, McDonald delighted some with his piano and singing skills, while others raised their eyebrows.

McDonald’s NFL career never amounted to much. In his second game as a rookie in 1967, McDonald broke out with 98 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a win over New Orleans, but he faded after that game. His Achilles’ injury flared up, and continued to bother him through the following season, in which he played in only one game and didn’t carry the ball once. McDonald remained on the Washington roster in 1969, the year Guy Lombardi took over, according to Lombardi biographer David Maraniss.

According to a Sports Illustrated article dated 6/23/2017 McDonald loved the coaching style of Guy Lombardi…

“I’d go right through that wall for the man,” McDonald told Underwood after the first day of practice. “I’d run till I dropped. I’d do anything for him. He told us we had to love one another, to care for other players on the team if we were going to be a team. He’s a genius, a genius. We had a one-hour meeting last night. You know how many plays he gave us? Two. Only two plays in one hour. But we saw those plays like we never saw plays before.”

But soon enough, the love affair was over. McDonald walked in late to a meeting and was made an example of—a football life reduced to footnote in the legacy of a great coach.”

There’s an old story about Vince Lombardi, told to prove the legendary coach’s obsession with punctuality. Early in training camp in 1969, his single year coaching in Washington after nine distinguished seasons in Green Bay, Lombardi held a team meeting in an auditorium at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. The new coach made his expectations clear to players that summer: If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late.

So, when running back Ray McDonald walked through the swinging double doors late his fate was set. McDonald and Coach Lombardi went back and forth. McDonald claims that he wasn’t late—or perhaps that he was, but he had a good excuse.

Teammate Walt Rock says,” that McDonald was playing piano in the dormitory and lost track of time.” Accounts differ. Ultimately, Lombardi cut the running back on the spot in front of the entire team.

“Go play for the Roanoke Buckskins or whatever the hell they call themselves,” Lombardi told McDonald, according to linebacker Sam Huff’s 2011 autobiography. “You’re fired!”

McDonald eventually became a junior high music teacher. After an extended battle, he died of complications due to AIDS at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, on May 4, 1993,

three days before his 49th birthday, with a body weight less than half of his NFL playing weight. The cause of death was originally reported as complications from sickle cell anemia.

Coach Tate’s Legacy Lives On

Coach Tate’s legacy would live on and have an impact on Coach Bob Sepulveda’s son Rene years later. Rene, upon graduating from Alamogordo High and after getting his double Masters, ultimately became the head Women’s Track & Field Coach for Oklahoma State University of which Coach Tate made his mark years before. Tate coached the Cowboy cross country and track and field teams from 1968-82, guiding his alma mater to Big 8 championships in 1972 and 1973 and district titles in 1972, 1973 and 1975. Tate was recognized as the District V Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1973. He led the Cowboys to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 1973 following a seventh place showing in 1972. During his time as coach, he mentored 29 All-Americans.

One of those all American’s would be Jim Bolding. Jim Bolding was named as Tate’s replacement when Tate resigned. Bolding served in the role for 1 year and resigned from the University due to issues with the administration and health concerns of his wife. Bolding himself was a recognized athlete and a successful businessman.

In 2004, Rene Sepulveda as Head Coach for Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field had an athlete with significant potential; Alizon Erzinger. Rene saw her talent in hurdling. He knew the best expert in hurdling was Jim Bolding, Tate's protégé.. Jim had no interest in coaching, had not done so in years, as he owned a travel agency. Bolding liked Rene and arranged his team's travel as his travel agent. As a favor, to Rene he agreed to check her out and decide if he could potentially help Rene with her training. He did she became an NCAA success story and that is a story for yet another day of the connection of Coach Tate, Jim Bolding and Rene Sepulveda.

Story Excerpted from Coach Robert Sepulveda The Early Days Book 1 Available at Roadrunner Emporium 928 New York Avenue Alamogordo New Mexico Open Monday thru Saturday till 8 pm.

Also Available on Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/Coach-Robert-Louis-Sepulveda-DaysTM/dp/B08CJP3GQ4

https://www.amazon.com/Coaches-Marilyn-Sepulveda-Coach-Hveem%C2%A9/dp/B09CRLZKZV

Book 2 Coach Bob & Marilyn Sepulveda and The Hveem Years will be released locally 

September 4th 2021 at Roadrunner Emporium, 928 New York Avenue. Join Coach Sepulveda and Coach Hveem September 4th from 6 to 8 pm for a book signing, stories of their tenure as coaches in Alamogordo, wine and cheese service, artist demonstrations and a live radio remote by KALH radio Alamogordo. We hope to see you there...

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