When Larry Combs graduated from New Mexico State University 21 years ago, he hoped to enter the Artesia Public Schools system as a teacher and coach. Having accomplished that and more, he is today the director of special education for APS and living a life even more rewarding than he had imagined.

Combs was born on July 6, 1957, in Orange, Texas, the fourth of five boys. He moved to Artesia at the age of 7, and except for a seven–year coaching stint in Alamogordo, has lived here ever since.

As a tight–end and kicker/punter, he lettered for three years in varsity football at AHS. He also lettered three years in baseball and two in basketball. After his graduation in 1975, he attended the University of Wyoming on football scholarship for two years.

He transferred to NMSU after his Sophomore year and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1980. He also married his wife, Cheryl, that summer.

Obviously qualified for any job in his field, Combs chose to return to Artesia in 1980 to serve as a special education teacher and a coach. He was a coaching staff favorite at AHS, assisting the football and track teams from 1980 – 1986. He remains in touch to this day with many of his former athletes.

In 1986, he relocated to Alamogordo where he helped coach the Tiger football team through seven seasons, one of those as head coach.

In 1993, Combs came home to Artesia to teach and coach once again and raise his family in the town in which he grew up. He returned to NMSU in 1996 to procure his Master of Arts degree, and in 1998, he was offered the position of full–time director of special education.

"It’s gratifying to see how hard the teachers and staff work to see the children get the attention they need," said Combs. He and his dedicated staff oversee special education programs based in every school in the district, including Penasco.

In the main office alone, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiology, counseling, psych services and diagnostics testing are offered to special needs children.

"I have a tremendous office and teaching staff, as well as supportive building principals," Combs notes, citing the progress the program has made over the years as credits to the efforts of those who are behind it.

In addition to heading the in–office screening tasks and the individual school programs, Combs himself takes care of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act budget, the Medicaid in the Schools budget, and the pre–school special education budget.

Speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy are offered twice daily at Roselawn Elementary to pre–school aged children. Therapy is also available to students at Artesia Head Start.

"I’ve seen a lot of positives come out of this department," Combs says of his extensive special education network. "I’ve seen a lot of growth from the students."

Someone who works so hard every day for others deserves a little recreation time, and in Combs’, he enjoys a variety of activities.

An avid bike rider, he can often be seen pedaling around Artesia. He has also taken a few bicycle excursions to other locales, including a four–day bike tour of the north rim of the Grand Canyon. "That was just spectacular," Combs recalls. "The scenery, the ride, the people I was with – that trip was just a pleasure."

Spending time with his daughters is very special to Combs, increasingly so these days, considering the rate at which they are growing up. Daughter Leslie is a freshman at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, and Lindsay is a junior at AHS.

In the summers, Combs hits the baseball fields at Jaycee Park to lend a different kind of service to children. For the past four years, he has helped coach a Little League baseball team and was honored this past summer by being named one of the All–Star coaches for the 9 and 10–year–old Minor Division All–Stars. That team took first place in the District Tournament in Tularosa and third in the state in Los Alamos.

Combs also enjoys traveling, and one of his most memorable trips was taken to Australia in 1995.

He and several New Mexico high school athletes traveled to Australia as part of the Coaches Care program to play football against some fairly intimidating locals.

"Those were grown men, not boys," Combs remembers, noting, however, that the score ended up "lopsided" in favor of the high schoolers.

With a combination of his hobbies and his work, Combs is happy to say that he lives a very fulfilling life.

His service to the community through his position in the special education department is limitless; children from pre–school to 12th grade benefit every day from the efforts Combs and his staff put toward their educational assistance.

"My job is rewarding because of the staff I get to work with...they are true professionals, and they really care about the kids," says Combs. "That, as well as the kids, makes my job worthwhile."