Sam Macias - Class of 1951

Sam Macias was born on October 20, 1933 in Sparks, Nevada. He was a very outgoing student while attending Sparks High School and credits his chemistry and math teacher, Vincent Keele, as his biggest influence during high school. After high school, Sam attended the University of Nevada, Reno where he participated in boxing for four years. His accomplishments in boxing are very extensive including three-time Pacific Coast Champion and two-time runner up for the college championship. When Macias first entered UNR, he chose a major in accounting, but after realizing he had a passion for working with children, he changed his major to physical education and school administration.

During his sophomore year in college, Sam Macias was drafted into the army where he served eighteen months in Korea. When the Korean War was over, Macias went back to finish college and continue boxing. It was at this time that Same became more involved with coaching at Northside Junior High School. After college, Sam became a teacher at Traner Junior High School where he also coached basketball, track, and football. He later became a counselor, then vice principal, and eventually principal of Traner Middle School for 21 years, retiring about ten years ago.

Throughout his life, Sam has continued to nourish his passion for boxing. In addition to participating in boxing in college, he also served in many boxing organizations. In 1978, Nevada Governor O’Callahan appointed him to the Nevada Athletic Commission; three years later he was reappointed by Governor List, and then again by Governor Bryan before quitting. Sam has also served on the Board of Governors for the World Boxing Council and served two four-year terms as President of the North American Boxing Federation.

Even though Sam Macias has a long list of accomplishments, he claims his biggest accomplishment to date is raising his two wonderful children, Lisa and Gary, with his wife, Sandra, whom he married in 1958.

Inducted 2003