Our people: Homegrown Portales-ite

My name is Arturo Ontiveros. I am 1 of 11 children born to Abel and Soledad Ontiveros, the second to the youngest. I am married to Veronica (Gonzales) Ontiveros and we have two awesome boys, Adrian, 15-years-old, and Andru, 12-years-old, that keep us plenty busy. I am a homegrown Portales-ite and have lived here since 1980. I graduated from Portales High School in 1994 and then attended Eastern New Mexico University where I received my bachelor's degree in 2001 and my master's degree in 2011. In 2001, I began working for Portales Schools as a science teacher and coach, teaching for 12 years before going into administration as an assistant principal at PHS. I was an assistant principal for five years before being promoted to prinicpal for the current school year.

What would you do if you won $1 million?

Travel. I would love to visit each state in our great country to watch a Major League Baseball game in every MLB ballpark across the country and visit a few places outside of the U.S. - Australia, Europe, Japan, and Brazil to list a few.

What is your most prized possession?

I was able to steal (from my brothers) an old Winchester .22 Magnum rifle and some Old Timer knives that belonged to my dad, who passed away in August of 1991, at the start of my sophomore year.

How did you meet your spouse?

I actually went to three years of high school with my wife and we did not even know each other. She was a member of the band and I was the typical jock in high school. I actually met her while in college; she worked at Landall's Box Office and I would go rent movies just to make small talk with her and eventually mustered up the courage to ask her out.

Tell us about a time you cried.

In 2005 when I lost my mother. She was a great woman - loving, caring, tough, kind, firm, hard-working, nurturing, I could go on and on.

What is your theme song?

I am a huge Garth Brooks fan so I would say "The Dance."

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

This one is easy, a professional baseball player. I am a huge Yankees fan due to having to do a book report on the "Billy Martin Story" in fourth grade.

What are you reading?

I recently finished the Game of Thrones series and I am still waiting on the final book to come out.

What do you collect?

I have always been intrigued by knives and have accumulated quite the collection, 500 or so various knives. More recently, I have gotten into collecting baseball cards. My two boys are huge baseball fans and collect cards and this caught on. We irritate my wife by constantly asking to find a card shop on family trips. We have a great time talking about the new young talent and I always try to tell them about older players that I grew up idolizing. Great bonding time with my boys!

How would you like to be remembered?

As a loving husband and father, an inspiring educator and as an overall good person.

Do you have a celebrity crush?

I am a huge Salma Hayek fan.

If money were no object, what would you do to make eastern New Mexico a better place?

I would love to attempt to provide our youth in the area with a large indoor recreational center that has a variety of after school and evening programs for the youth in Portales and the surrounding area.

What's an accomplishment you're proud of?

There are a couple: I am the second college graduate in my family. I am also going to mention that I was the head baseball coach of the first state baseball championship in the history of Portales baseball in 2012.

Who would play you if someone made a movie about your life?

I don't know if this would work, but Kevin Costner.

What would you like for your last meal?

I would have to say a ribeye steak, medium well, with a loaded baked potato.

What's the best gift you've ever given? Received?

Given: I wrote my wife a poem that allowed me the opportunity to express myself to her in a different way.

Received: Encouragement from my family and my teachers growing up.

What do you hope your life will be like in 10 years?

I hope to still be impacting the lives of our students in a meaningful way.

Tell us about your favorite hobby.

I would have to say collecting cards with my boys because it gives me a chance to visit with them on a variety of topics. It provides me the bonding time that a father needs to have with his kids.

Outside of family, who were some people that impacted you in a positive manner?

Mrs. Fowler, my first grade teacher, Mrs. Hugg, my fourth grade teacher and Coach Chavez, my seventh and eighth grade physical education teacher and football coach.

- Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman