Related Links

• No harm, no Fowler Blog

More High School

• Richard Stevens: Faces I'll remember are the smallest ones
• Michael Garcia: Here's to you, athletes, coaches and friends. These memories - and lessons - will last forever.
• Tribune sports: Five faves

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Albuquerque Old Town
• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Dennis Cordova didn't always make the right call.

What longtime basketball official ever does?

But friends and family say Cordova carried himself in a dignified way at work, at play and at home.

Cordova, who officiated high school football and basketball games in Albuquerque for 38 years, died on Friday of a stroke. He was 75.

"No job was too big for Dennis," said his sister, Nellie Montoya. "He would tackle anything in life. He was very loving of life to the fullest, and his thoughtfulness and kindness showed that."

Cordova hardly saw an idle moment during each day. When he wasn't working at Sandia National Laboratories, he was officiating everything from high school sports to college sports to Little League. His specialty was basketball, and he often officiated Fort Lewis College, Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico games.

Cordova is a former vice president of the New Mexico Officials Association, which is under the umbrella of the New Mexico Activities Association.

He even formed one of the first booster clubs at the now-defunct University of Albuquerque, where Cordova attended school.

He often lectured to groups of coaches and officials about officiating.

He stayed busy because he enjoyed being around others, Montoya said.

"He was a referee because he loved helping kids," Montoya said. "That brought him a lot of joy. Being surrounded by people, building friendships was his thing."

Legendary basketball coach Jim Hulsman, who led Albuquerque High to seven state titles in 34 years, said Cordova oozed integrity on the court.

"He always handled difficult situations very well," Hulsman said. "He worked ball games without favoritism. He was always tactful enough where coaches would say something but wouldn't get a technical. And he could work a ball game and still be your friend afterward."

Cordova is survived by his wife, Becky, and his five children - Kathy Baca, Alex Cordova, Linda Slezak, Martin Cordova and Maria Barber.