Amado “Army” Salinas

August 20, 1944 - May 10, 2018

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Army Salinas passed away Thursday, May 10, 2018. We will gather for fellowship and remembrance from 6 to 8 PM, Friday, May 18, 2018, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life of 73 years on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 2 PM at Victory Life Baptist Church.

Army was born on August 20, 1944, to Viyer and Frances Salinas in Nordheim, Texas He graduated from Lubbock Cooper High School in 1963, where he was a varsity stand out. Army played college football at Eastern New Mexico University where he earned a degree in Education and Spanish in 1968. He later earned a master’s degree in Kinesiology.

On June 7,1969, Army married his partner and the love of his life, Ann Courtney, in Roswell, New Mexico. Army quickly moved up the high school coaching ranks in New Mexico. After a brief stay in Roswell, Coach Salinas landed his first head coaching position at Hagerman, New Mexico in 1970. There he resurrected the football program that had been dormant since 1942. In 1972 they played for the New Mexico state championship their first year in the district. Army left Hagerman in 1973 to rebuild the football program at Portales, New Mexico. He left Portales after building the program from a squad with too few players to scrimmage at practice to a program with over one hundred high school players. He was also the first girl’s basketball coach for Portales High School. After leaving Portales, Coach Salinas landed the head football and athletic director coaching job for Lubbock High School in 1978 under LISD Athletic Director Pete Ragus. After Lubbock High, he served as Assistant Athletic Director in Plainview before leaving for Dimmitt in 1988. Army moved on to Seminole High School in 1990 as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director where he remained until he retired in 2004. After one year of retirement, Coach Salinas re-entered coaching in Hobbs, New Mexico at Highland Junior High where he completed seven more successful years mentoring and impacting coaches and players. After coaching, Army dedicated his remaining years to spending time with his two children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Salinas of Lubbock, TX; daughter, Amy McCullough of Bay City, Texas; son, Aaron Salinas and wife, Laurel of Lubbock, Texas; three granddaughters, Shelby and Katelyn McCullough, and Molly Salinas; two grandsons, Cole McCullough, and Dylan Salinas; two great-granddaughters, Layton Knipstein and Tatum Forrester; two brothers, Ben Salinas and wife, Lela; and Vilsen Salinas; sister, Yolanda Salinas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Viyer and Frances Salinas; and sister, Gloria Salinas.

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Coach Salinas brought integrity and pride to work everyday. It rubbed off on me and those around me. He had a powerful presence when he was around and brought a smile to my face whenever I saw him. Congratulations on a life well lived. Blessings to all who are hurting.

Ann and family, I extend to you my condolences in your loss.Coach Salinas was and will always be a Man among men and boys. I have a few memories I’d like to share.Thinking back, way back to the summer of 1970 when this rather large, impressionable new Coach showed up at the HHS football field and at that time it had a dirt track. For some reason a load of used tires were being delivered and I just had to know “why Coach?” Over the next two years I got to know some of those tires by new names.Coach was a tremendous influence and my beginning in weight training and strengthening. He took a scrawny Freshman and helped mold for the future. He also carried a big paddle for influence and I remember the day we got real acquainted.Coach Salinas could also shoot free throws and was a ringer behind all that brawn. The challenge was to get us to tuck in our shirttails, best out of 10, he always won and I didn’t dare get caught with mine out.His legacy carries on today and Coach will be missed.

I had the honor to know Army when he was the head coach at Lubbock High and I was an assistant at Plainview. We later coached, scouted, and became friends when Army came to Plainview. He was truly a good man and his legacy of building young athletes into productive adults will go on for years. God bless Army and May his family find comfort knowing he’s in the arms of angels now.

Ann & Family, so sorry to hear of your loss. (I was your next door neighbor, the Gomez family and used to babysit Amy) We have fond memories of you and your family and will always be grateful for all your family did to bring the football program back to Hagerman, NM. Cherished memories for us all.Sincerely,Luana & Gary HarrellHHS Class of '73

He was my Health teacher at Portales High School. He really made an impact on so many lives.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

a good friend and a great example to his students.... I worked in the cafeteria and remember that he and a few others always showed up for diner last because he was so dedicated to training during football season.... oh and the time he picked up a fumble and he was so big and not so fast he had to fight off a tackler near the goal line to score..... the guy had him stopped.... he just carried the defender and the ball for I think was his only touch down in college career..... sympathies to family.... know that he is fondly remembered by so many people who's life he effected.

May You Rest In Peace Coach Salinas, you were a great teacher at Portales High, you will be missed

The first time I met Coach Salinas was when he came down to the Portales Junior High practice field to check out his up and comers. He would have only been 29 years old. Wow, seemed much older at the time. He pulled me out and we played catch with the football for a long time. Before long, he had me long snapping. He taught me lot on and off the field. I have thought about him from time to time, wondering what had become of him. I will never forget when he announced his son was born and he told us at pregame practice in high school what a ‘stud’ his son was. Very proud of his family. I will pray for his family and continue to hold fond memories of Coach Salinas.

Ann so sorry to hear about Army. I love you both dearly. May God be with through this sad time. God has a good one with him. My prayers to the family.

So sorry about Coach Salinas. I worked with him when he was in Dimmitt and in Seminole. He helped me to become a better coach. He will be greatly missed.

I remember Coach Salinas from the time he coached in Portales. He was a wonderful man!

We were so sorry to hear of Army's passing. We knew Army from his college days coming up to Doc's Drive In. Always so nice. Wanda (Hill) Stephenson and Mona (Hill) Roberts

My condolences to the Salinas family. A member of the Lubbock Westerners always. RIP.

So sorry to hear about Coach Salinas. He’s was a great guy. My brothers loved playing for him and I loved being in his class. Our prayers go out to the family and friends.

Thoughts and prayers to the family. Wasn't one of his students but did get to know him in highschool. He was a wonderful person. So sorry for your loss

Army made a huge impact on my life. I played for Portales . I will never forget the first day we met. He told me to get a haircut and that we will start our practice with one of these tires around our neck. We would run 8 laps then start warm ups... I was thinking no way... Coach new what he was doing because at the end of the season 9 of us were on offense and defense and I was really lucky and never came off the field. Coach was an army of a man and had a tender caring way about him that is rare. I was a 17 year old senior turned 18 in July and in August married my highscool sweetheart Linda. We had Army’s beautiful daughter Amy in our wedding. We have had a richer life because of Coach Army Salinas! I would be willing to bet 100’s of other men feel the same way. Love and prayers to your family Coach!

David and I are so sorry that Army is gone. We have such good memories of him as a great teacher and coach and a fantastic friend. We will miss him for sure.

I'm so sorry to hear about Army! He was such a wonderful and gentle man. We shared many stories and good times together at work and as neighbors. Though I haven't seen him and Ann in several years, I always considered them good friends. I know he will be missed by many . My condolences to Ann, Amy and Aaron and family. May God comfort you and give you peace.

I’m so thankful for the many good memories of Coach Salinas’time in Seminole. He was a good influence on our boys and many others . Praying for peace and comfort for all of you.

I will forever be indebted to Army for his influence on our son. God brought a huge blessing into our lives when Army moved to Seminole. He brought an atmosphere of integrity, honesty, compassion, and hard work. He was a Christian man who cared deeply for his players. The Salinas family are in our prayers.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

I was so sorry to hear of coach passing he was a good man he taught me how to play football harder and to be tough. I was only with him for a short time but he impacted me a great deal. He was a good man prayers for the family! RIP Coach!

We were sorry to hear of Army's passing. He was an amazing and extremely kind man. It was a blessing to have him cross our path. Our sympathy to the family

To Ann, Amy and Aaron and family: Bill and I so wish we could be there with you all during this difficult time. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. I remember Army telling me when my dad passed away that he was a gentle soul, well, that is how I saw Army - a gentle giant with a heart of gold. I always loved you all's visits when I lived with Tio and Tia. I looked up to you guys. I really did. He made an impact on me. And so did you, Ann. We love you all and hugs and kisses to all the family.

Army will be greatly missed by many.... he never met a stranger and was a heart warming friend to all who knew him. God Bless his family. Seek God and know his comfort....

Army was an outstanding man. His legacy coninues in all the kids he taught and coached. He didn’t just coach; rather he taught them about life. He taught them to be good parents, citizens, and role models. His legacy lives through his family and his many kids he coached. Army did what was right, because it was right.

Coach Salinas was an amazing man and mentor, he helped me become the man I am today. He was a Coach that always worked on building you up he was great to his players and was very caring. He always greeted me with a big hug anytime I saw him after graduation. I will miss him greatly.

So sorry to hear about Army. He was a GREAT man that I really enjoyed coaching with. He was for the students and athletes and he always tried to prepare them for life. He will be missed. Prayers for the family.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.