Asked and Answered: Family man, athlete and civil servant Marcos Castillo

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 “I don’t get too much alone time in my car anymore, but when I do, I usually just enjoy the time and the ability to listen to music at volumes that are far too loud to have on when my two young daughters are in the car.

“Prior to us moving back to Los Lunas in July 2021 when I had a 30-minute commute each day, I’d use the morning drive to enjoy the sunrise and the afternoon drive to unwind after the day at work.”

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“I think if you were to ask my former classmates, they’d probably tell you that they remember me as a baseball player. Although that was a huge part of who I was, I also was a really good student, who was fortunate enough to have a diverse group of friends with many different interests and personality types, many of whom I’m still friends with to this day. I guess you could say I was a relatively well-rounded kid at the time.”

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“I’ve been fortunate to have been able to receive many pieces of good advice from family, friends, coaches, mentors and others throughout my life, but there’s one saying in particular that stands out.

“My dad would always say, ‘Do what you’re told, and keep your mouth shut.’ At face value, it is a quite simple mantra, and depending on what you’re told and by whom, it is (it) has been quite useful. And if anyone reading this knew my dad, it is impossible not to read that saying not in his voice and tone.”

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 “I never really knew exactly what I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to do something that was directly or indirectly related to sports, as that has always been my passion.

“I spent my 20s and good chunk of my 30s trying not to grow up, and to a certain extent I don’t ever want to grow up.

“As I’ve gotten older and further in my career, I do know that whatever I do, I always want to serve my community in some capacity, be it through sports or otherwise. Turns out, now that I’m a father, all I really want to be when I grow up is a great dad.”

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“My family. My brother, Randy, and sister, Anna, who are wonderful examples of selflessness and hard work who always put their family above all else. My wife, Myrriah, who somehow can juggle the responsibilities of being a leading scholar in her field while being a wonderful mother and partner. My mother, Cecilia, who is the most kind, caring and selfless person on the planet. All of them have shaped me to be who I am today and who I aspire to be in the future. They are all great examples, each in their own way, of the values of service and caring for others before yourself.”

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“For about 10 years, I competed as a professional disc golfer. What started as a hobby after my baseball career was over became a very serious competitive endeavor. I traveled pretty much every weekend around the region and the country competing in professional disc golf tournaments for money. I was sponsored by Prodigy Disc, a disc golf manufacturer out of Georgia, who provided me with discs, accessories, and performance bonuses based on high finishes.

“I stepped away from the game a few years back to focus on my family and health but I’m thankful for the experiences I had, the places I got to see and the people I got to meet through the game. I still play recreationally from time to time but not much anymore.”

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 “First, I’d make sure my family is taken care of for several generations over, ensure that we build generational wealth so that my family can pursue their dreams without any financial burdens. To quote Forrest Gump, ‘Momma said there’s only so much fortune a man really needs, and the rest is just for showing off.’ In which case, I’d give a ton back to my community and other causes I care about.

“My wife and I were having this conversation the other day when the lotto jackpot was huge and I mentioned that I’d buy a really fancy travel bus and donate it to New Mexico Highlands University athletic department so future NMHU athletes wouldn’t have to travel like we did when we were athletes there.”

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 “I have had a lot of great friends throughout my life from school, college, disc golf, work and community, but since the question asks for one, I have to say my friend, Rico Romero. We met when Rico moved to Los Lunas from Rio Rancho in eighth grade, which I constantly rib him about, him not being ‘from’ Los Lunas, and we have been super close ever since.

“We stood in each other’s wedding, have shared life’s accomplishments and disappointments, and know that we are always there for one another whether it is to have serious conversation, talk baseball, or just to share a crude joke. My kids call him Uncle Rico, and I know we will continue our friendship for the rest of our lives

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“I don’t think there’s any one song that is my favorite to sing. I do like to sing a lot, and I’d like to I think I’m a good singer, but my family may think otherwise. My musical tastes are quite diverse. It ranges anywhere from classic rock to old school hip hop to punk rock, and I really do enjoy singing. I’ve been known to do a bit of karaoke from time to time as well, poorly, but I enjoy it. So I could be found rapping along with Chali 2na from Jurassic 5, singing the Beatles, to wailing along with Rancid.”

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“Isotopes Park. We’re season ticket holders to the Isotopes and I love going to the ballpark with my family and friends. My oldest daughter, Mercedes, absolutely loves going to the ball games and being able to share those experiences with my family and knowing that we’ll be spending lots of time at the ballpark every summer doing something that we all love brings me much joy. Nothing beats a warm summer evening at the ballpark watching the greatest game in the world with family and friends.”

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“I’ve had so many wonderful teachers and coaches throughout my life. I thoroughly believe that coaches are teachers just as much as those in the classroom. If I had to choose one I would say my baseball coach at New Mexico Junior College, Ray Birmingham. Coach B took a very inexperienced kid and not only made him a decent baseball player but turned that kid into a young man. He supported me through a difficult time in my life when he didn’t have to. Coach B has coached hundreds of players throughout his long and successful career, some who have went on to become major league baseball players, yet he still keeps in communication with everyone and he genuinely cares about each and every one of his guys long after they are no longer playing for him. He has molded many young men to become successful adults, both on and off the field and I’m forever grateful for the time I got to spend with him, and that he is still in my corner as an adult and a father.”

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“Of the many classic scenes and lines from ‘A League of Their Own,’ the scene where Dottie is quitting, and Jimmy is talking to her before they board the bus is my favorite. His quote regarding the difficulty of the game, ‘It’s supposed to be hard, if it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.’ This quote doesn’t just apply to baseball, which is the hardest game in the world to play, but to anything good in life worth working for. It teaches you that achieving anything great is going to be hard.”

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“There are many famous figures that I admire that I’d love to share a dinner with — musicians, athletes, artists, leaders. Having to choose one, I would love to have dinner with President Obama.

“I’d enjoy listening and learning from him, and how he was able to come from humble beginnings to become a transformational leader for our generation. I’d like to hear his perspectives on becoming our first African American president and how he paved the way for generations of minority leaders to follow in his footsteps. I’d also like to hear how he was able to balance the incredible pressures he faced as president with raising two young daughters to become successful young women, while also being a supportive and loving partner to his wife. There’s so much to learn from someone of his experience.”

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 “Professionally, I’m extremely proud that I have the opportunity to work in my hometown and be able to provide spaces, resources and programs for the community. I’m proud that we have been able to create and show the demand that has led to us be able to construct beautiful new facilities that will be utilized long after my time here is over.

“I’m most proud of the team I get to lead here in our department, both past and present, who are currently doing great things here, as well as others who have moved on and are doing wonderful things with other departments within in the village as well as places outside the village.

“Personally, I’m most proud of my family. My family has a long legacy of public service here in Los Lunas and I hope to be a small part of that. I’m so proud of my wife, Myrriah, who had two babies during the pandemic, while completing her book and going through a grueling tenure process, all while we were in the process of completing and moving into our new house.

“Every day I’m proud to see my two daughters grow and develop, and to be there every step of the way. Wow, that was a lot, I guess I’m very grateful to have so much to be proud of!”

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 “I would hope to be remembered as someone who dedicated their life to the service of others. I would like to think that when it’s all said and done, I was able to make a positive impact on my community through my career, my hobbies and most importantly, my family.

“I want to be remembered as someone who was always helpful and who left it better than he found it. More than anything else, I want to be remembered as a great father to Mercedes and Mariquita, because ultimately, they are the most important thing in my life and they will hopefully carry on the legacy of our family.”