LOVINGTON, NEW MEXICO

Ross Warren Black Obituary:

Kirby - Smith - Rogers Funeral Home
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Ross Warren Black
(July 3 1931 - October 18, 2013)

Funeral services for Ross Warren Black, 82, of Lovington, NM will be held on Friday, October 18, 2013 at 1:00 pm at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dave Whitman, officiating. Burial will follow at Lovington Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home.

Ross was born on July 3, 1931 in Lovington to Jim and Ruby Lee (Rogers) Black and passed away on October 14, 2013 in Lovington. He was a Lovington High School graduate and was the star athlete in basketball and track. He started college at Ft. Lewis Junior College in Colorado and was named Athlete of the year in 1951. In October of 1952 he married Cherrill Marie Robinson in Lovington. He finished college at UNM where he was a 3-yr letterman in track and basketball and awarded “Best all-around student athlete in 1954”.

He began coaching and teaching in Lovington, coaching track, basketball, football and gymnastics and he was the athletic director in 1962 and NM Basketball Coach of the year in 1960. Ross was elected president of the NM Activities Association and elected president of the National Activities Association for two years. He was the first basketball and track coach and athletic director at NM College and was selected National Junior College Coach in 1971. He began serving as Principal of Lovington High School in 1977 and he served in that position for four years before becoming Superintendent of Schools. In 1987, Ross was honored by being selected as NM School Administrator of the Year and was inducted into the NM Activities Association Hall of Fame and in 1991 was named NM superintendent of the Year.

He was named Lovington’s Citizen of the Year in 1995 and was the first inductee into the Lea County Hall of Fame in 2008 and was a member and chairman of Lea County Commission. Ross was a long time member of First United Methodist Church where he has served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of Administrative Board and Chairman of Pastor Parish Committee.

Ross was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson: Ross Thomas Black and two brothers: David and Jimmy Black. He is survived by his wife, Cherrill of the home; four sons: James and wife Sue Black of Hobbs; Ronnie and wife Sandra Black of Tucson, AZ; Rick and wife Shannon Black of Lovington and Rob and Lisa Black of San Francisco, CA.; three brothers: U.D. and wife Holly Black of Idaho; Tommy and wife Kaky Black of Albuquerque; Eddie Black of El Paso, TX and nine grandchildren: Sean, Justin, Alex, Anthony, Macy, Amber, Ty, Kenzie, Ruby and great- grandson, Bryton and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 745, Lovington, NM 88260 or to NM Junior College Foundation , 5317 Lovington Hwy, Hobbs, NM 88240 in memory of Ross Black. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013 from noon until 8:00 pm. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbysmithrogers.com.