Guy Luscombe

Funeral services for Guy Luscombe, 94, of Portales will be held at 10:00 AM, Sat., Sept. 17, 2022 in the Guy Luscombe Gymnasium, in Dora, NM with Matt Rush and Betty Williamson officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Courtland Luscombe, Alex Luscombe, Shawn Luscombe, Brannon Luscombe, Richard Luscombe and Paul Luscombe serving as pallbearers.  All of his former students and staff will be honorary pallbearers.  The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 to 8 PM.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to either St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Make A Wish, 1702 East Highland Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016.

Guy Luscombe was born Feb. 20, 1928 in Calera, OK to the home of Eva Maud (Sturdy) and Edgar Eugene Luscombe, and died early on the morning of Sept. 9, 2022 in Portales, NM.  Mr. Luscombe graduated from Calera High School in 1946, and went on to attend Southeastern Oklahoma University on a Basketball scholarship.  His coach was Bloomer Sullivan, an Oklahoma Hall of Fame coach.  After two years, he joined the US Air Force.  While stationed at Otis Air Force Base in Buzzard Bay, MA he met Pauline Ruffini, and the couple was married on April 1, 1951 in Plymouth, MA.  Mr. Luscombe often said that they got married on April Fool’s Day, and everyone thought it was a joke.  His wife thought it was a joke for the next 59 years.  When he was discharged from the service, they moved back to Calera, and he finished his degree at Southeastern Oklahoma University.  He again played basketball, but this time for the Phillips 66 team.  Following graduation, he took his first job coaching Girls’ Basketball and teaching Wood Shop and History at Addington, OK.  After a year, he took a job at the much larger school in Waurika, again coaching Girls’ Basketball in addition to classroom courses.

In 1962, Guy became the Principal for the Dora School, and also coached.  In 1965, when the position of Superintendent became available, he was hired in that position.  He retired in 1990 after 25 years.  During that time, he earned a Master’s Degree and later an Ed Specialist Degree from Eastern New Mexico University.  Guy was always well respected for his fairness in dealing with his staff, and was able to at the same time maintain a close working relationship with his board members.  He always felt that his greatest challenge was in 1972, when he oversaw the consolidation of the rival schools of Dora and Causey, but somehow, he managed to remain friends with both sides.

Mr. Luscombe was the principal driving force in changing Girls’ Basketball from half court to full court and establishing the sport statewide and starting the state tournament.  He was also instrumental in beginning the EPAC tournament.

Among the many innovative accomplishments in his tenure, Guy began the first 4-day school week, which he was able to substantiate more than $300,000 in savings for the schools in utilities and other overhead.  He and a local electrician were able to create a lighted timer for the backboard that signaled if a shot was legal.  That is now standard across the sport.  Guy was inducted into the New Mexico Athletics Association Hall of Fame in 1989.

Throughout his lifetime he enjoyed woodworking, and numerous ones of his creations won Grand Champion ribbons at the Roosevelt County Fair.  Among his creations were countless rocking horses, and other wooden toys, cradles and changing tables.

He is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Candy Luscombe of Midland, TX, Mike and Amy Luscombe of Clovis, Richard and Joann Luscombe of Texico and Paul and Tawna Luscombe of Portales; a daughter, Sharon Billingsley of Portales; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; as well

as numerous friends and colleagues.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Wayne and Ray Luscombe and three sisters, Dee Justiss, June Haynie and Thelma Simmons as well as by his beloved wife, Pauline who died Mar. 23, 2010 after more than 59 years of marriage.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Guy Luscombe, please visit our floral store.