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Jerri Robertson smiled. She's answered the question a lot.

People always want to know her husband's real name.

Buddy, she tells them. But that never ends it. The requisite follow-up: No, no. What's his other name?

Buddy Arnold Robertson.

Maybe his given name is hard to believe at first, but it's fitting. For 37 years, Albuquerque Public Schools athletes, coaches and fellow administrators couldn't have had a better buddy.

It's why Robertson will be one of four new members of the Albuquerque/New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame when the class is inducted in March.

"I don't think he gets enough credit for all those foundational things that he did," said APS athletics director Ken Barreras. "Beyond all those things, Buddy, as a person, is somebody we all ought to try to emulate. From a work-ethic standpoint. From a selflessness standpoint. He's a what-ever-it-takes guy."

That's still apparent, even in retirement.

Look, and you'll see him in the background. One night he's taking tickets at a football game. Another he's running the scoreboard at a basketball game.

He has done - and continues to do - the small stuff.

He's done the big stuff, too.

In 1979, he ushered athletic trainers into APS. It helped the coaches, allowing them to focus more on coaching. It helped athletes to get better care, as he told The Tribune when he retired in 2002.

Barreras also credits Robertson with helping to grow local high school soccer and opening marketing and promotion venues.

But his r‚sum‚ wasn't what mattered to Robertson.

"Buddy was never excited about his accomplishments," Jerri said. "He was just in the program for the kids. He was in the kids business. He wanted to make sure they could participate and do . . . He wouldn't let a program die."

Jerri said it is her husband's desire to help kids, honesty and integrity that allowed him to have success and gain respect. He has a reputation as being one of the most well-liked administrators in the state.

Even among those who don't always express a fondness for the Duke City.

Jerri considers longtime southern football coaches Eric Roanhaus (Clovis) and Jim Bradley (formerly of Mayfield and Roswell) as "dear friends."

Said Barreras: "He's a legend."

Here's a rundown of the newest members of the Hall:

Name: Linda Estes

Known for: The former UNM Director of Women's athletics fought vigorously for gender equality in sports, helping to merge women's college sports into the NCAA. How vigorously? A local honor given to one who takes personal or professional risks in defense of their beliefs is named for Estes.

A few words: "She wasn't everybody's best friend for a long time, but, in the long run, I think she is going to be one of the most appreciated administrators at the University of New Mexico for doing what she did."

- Susan Vigil MacEachen, former UNM track star and fellow inductee

Name: Nancy Lopez Knight

Known for: Few have accomplished more in women's golf. She started early, winning the New Mexico Women's Amateur at age 12. A few years later, Lopez Knight helped the Goddard boys golf team win two state titles. As a professional, she won 48 tournaments and three majors. For her dominance, she was elected into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1987, at age 30.

A few words: "This is probably an honor that's well-overdue for her."

- Dennis Latta, director of the New Mexico Sports Authority

Name: Buddy Robertson

Known for: His 40-year professional involvement with high school sports, most notably, serving as APS athletic director from 1990-2002. The former UNM catcher worked in the APS athletics office for 25 years and had a heavy influence in its modern structure.

A few words: "He had the foresight, long before his time, to start addressing things that we (take for granted) today."

- Ken Barreras, APS athletic director

Name: Susan Vigil MacEachen

Known for: Running. Fast. Between her track and cross-country careers at UNM, Vigil MacEachen was named an All-American five times. She was a national champion in the 800 and a finalist at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials.

A few words: "In the 70s, that's when women's athletics was taking off. We didn't have soccer and basketball and so on. Running was what we did. She was the best."

- Sally Marquez, Associate Director of the NMAA and one of the area's most accomplished athletes