This is the 41st installment of “Old Pueblo Abuelo,” a thought on positive things happening in the Old Pueblo from a sometimes cranky and often times humorous grandfather actually born in Tucson and writing from my desk in Tucson, the Old Pueblo.
Mike Boese threw out the first pitch at the Chris Moon Memorial held at the Oscar Romero Ballpark at Cherry Field. His years of steady dedication to honoring Chris made him a logical choice to stand on the varsity mound that rememberable spring day.
A graduate of Emporia State and the University of Arizona, Mike started on his long and fulfilling journey as an athletic trainer while completing his graduate studies at Tucson High from 1985-1987. Many have relayed to me that, once a person is a Badger, they will always a Badger, and this was proven to be true in Mike’s case.
He went on to be the Head Athletic Trainer, Health and Physical Education Instructor at Cactus High School in Glendale from 1988-1995 and he also served as the Sun Devil Baseball Camp Athletic Trainer from 1988-1996. Then, the Badger came home and he served as the Head Athletic Trainer, CTE Sports Medicine Instructor at Tucson High from 1996 to the final day of school this past spring. In all, 32 years at Tucson and nearly 40 years diagnosing and mending student athletes before a well-earned retirement to be with family came calling.
Mike lives in South Carolina now, where his grandchild lives, but his DNA can still be found in the gyms and football field at Tucson High and the baseball and softball fields at Cherry – literal, blood, seat and tears. Plenty of tears. When Chris Moon passed away in 2010, Mike put a huge boulder on his shoulders and placed it on the upper landing of what is now known as Oscar Romero Ballpark. That boulder serves as a backdrop to a life size statue of Chris Moon. No one did more to honor Chris and he is still involved with the Chris Moon Foundation.
“My wife (Traci) was basically a single parent our entire marriage due to my job responsibilities so now it’s her time,” Mike said from his home in Lake Marion. “It was my honor and privilege to take care of so many wonderful high school athletes and I hope I positively impacted their lives. I am frequently asked what was the worst injury I ever encountered and I know kids that ask that question expect me to say something like an open fracture (bone poking through the skin) which I have dealt with a few times, but my answer is Joe Kay.”
Kay suffered a stroke as fans rushed the floor 2004 after a basketball game, ending his hopes of playing volleyball for Stanford. His injury put an end to fans being on the court after every game in the Tucson Unified District.
“His injury was the only life altering injury I cared for as a first responder. You just don’t expect a 17 year old athlete to suffer a stroke. I’m sorry it happened but I’m glad he was able to recover as well as he did. We are friends on Facebook and I was honored to take care of his niece Gloria Valencia last year and announce her name as Valedictorian at graduation.”
As an educator of 40 years myself, I understand all too well the feeling of teaching the kids, and a few grandchildren, of students I taught so long ago.
“I also encountered a few athletes at Tucson who would ask me if I remembered taking care of their mom or dad. There’s an old joke about that. It says, “You know you’re getting old as an athletic trainer when you’re taking care of the kids of the kids you used to take care of. Talk about my career running full circle!”
AWARDS: AzATA Warren H. Lee Award (Arizona’s Certified Athletic Trainer of the Year)-1994. AzATA President’s Award-2011.
Leah Oliver attended the University of Arizona, earning her degree in Exercise Sports Science in the same era that produced future notable educators and coaches such as Mark Brunenkant, Chuck McCollum, Brian Peabody, Jim Mentz, Jerry Carrillo and the late Tony Gabusi. It was the Golden Era of a program that is no longer offered by the university.
Leah turned her education into a decade of work as Physical Education instructor and almost 40 years as a certified Athletic Trainer at Mountain View, where she retired this past spring. Her “Hall of Fame” career helped guide thousands of athletes through her school and into our community.
“Reflecting back on my time at Mountain View, I spent more than half my life there. three and almost four decades, so that’s like my family,” Lead said. “The students I had, or had recently, I had their parents also so It’s one big family. They shaped me, they helped me become the person I am today.”
A University of Arizona/Circle K Teacher of the Year recipient in 2001 and later recognized as the Marana Teacher of the Year in 2010, Leah’s work obviously went beyond the gym and the playing fields.
“The staff and the faculty of the school district was just like an extension of my own family and I loved learning every day different things that my students taught me and it was exciting and no day was exactly the same.”
Leah promises she will relax now and enjoy her daughter Shea and granddaughter Haven but she is leaving the door open to fill in as an athletic trainer now and then in the future. She wrote this message on social media:
“I have been blessed with so many amazing individuals, my students and athletes the joy you all have brought into my life is indescribable. Whether you are a graduate soon to be graduate or the children of my former students you have been among the greatest blessings in my life. You’ve taught me how to love, laugh cry, give freely and learn something new each day you all will always hold a special place in my heart!”
AWARDS: AzATA “Athletic Trainer of the Year” Award-1995; AzATA Hall of Fame-2013; National Athletic Trainer’s Association/Athletic Trainer Service Award-2017; Mountain View Hall of Fame-2025.
LINK: MORE OLD PUEBLO ABUELO HERE
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