Ray Sanchez

El Paso High School, Class of 1945

Ray Sanchez at Sun Bowl recognition event.

Ray Sanchez was a storyteller at heart. Best known as one of El Paso’s longest working sports journalists, His writing was never just about scores and games—it was about the people at the heart of every story, especially about the people of his alma mater, El Paso High School.

An El Paso native, Sanchez graduated from El Paso High School before serving in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. His career in journalism began in 1950 at the El Paso Herald-Post, where he became sports editor. He later wrote columns for the El Paso Times and El Paso Inc., where his work appeared for decades.

Sanchez authored several acclaimed books, including The Bear Facts, the definitive biography of legendary UTEP basketball coach Don Haskins, and Basketball’s Biggest Upset, chronicling the 1966 Texas Western College NCAA championship team. His reporting and books helped inspire the Disney film Glory Road.

Over his 60-plus years as a writer, Sanchez shared stories of sports icons and hometown heroes alike—from Don Haskins and Lee Trevino to Bowie’s Nemo Herrera, jockey Willie Shoemaker, and countless young athletes who made El Paso proud. He covered everything from youth leagues and UTEP athletics to seven Super Bowls, the Dallas Cowboys, and horse racing at Sunland Park and Ruidoso Downs.

Sanchez’s contributions to sports and journalism earned him numerous honors: induction into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame (1978), the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame (1989), and the UTEP Gold Nugget Award (2011). He was named El Paso High’s Outstanding Ex in 2013 and honored as a Legend of the Sun Bowl in 2019.

Reflecting on his career, Sanchez once said, “I’d like to be remembered as a writer who brought a bit of joy to El Paso sports. Over the years, I’ve received a multitude of thanks from readers. That means so much to me.”

Ray brought much joy to the city of El Paso and culminated his career by sharing his knowledge and love of El Paso High by being the Master of Ceremony during the EPHS Centennial Excellence in Sports Series. His expertise and knowledge of El Paso High School athletes can be seen on the Museum webpage.