Al Michael (Dr.) Munoz |
| Posted 2008-04-28 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Monday, April 21, 2008 Dr. Al Michael Munoz was born on July 1, 1951, in Miami, Ariz., and was tragically lost to us on April 15, 2008. Dr. Munoz was a beloved son, brother, father, friend, coach and mentor. Michael was raised in Glendale, Ariz., by his parents Al and Vangie Munoz along with four brothers and one sister. At an early age, Michael excelled in academics and athletics. His giftedness helped Michael to earn numerous accolades in grade school through high school. Michael attended Barcelona Elementary School and graduated from Glendale High School in 1969 and it was in high school that Michael’s talents truly began to emerge. Being the son of educators and the Head Football Coach at Glendale High School provided Michael with blessed genetics and outstanding tutors for his success in the classroom and athletic arena. As a result, Michael excelled in advanced placement course work and was a three-sport athlete at Glendale starring in football, basketball and baseball. Upon graduation from high school, the United States Army honored Michael with an appointment to the West Point Military Academy and he received all-conference and all-state recognition in football as a quarterback and baseball as a pitcher. As if Michaels’ academic and athletic high school schedules did not keep him occupied enough, he also took up the sweet sport of boxing, where his father also excelled. Michael became a prolific amateur boxer in the light-heavy weight ranks earning the recognition of Golden Gloves Western States Regional Champion in 1970 and qualifying him for the national tournament and a shot at the United States Olympic Team. However, Michael opted to turn in his gloves for a time and focus on his education and other passion … football! In 1970, Michael signed to play football at California Lutheran University in Thousands Oaks, California, after a one-year football stint at Glendale College and thrived at defensive-end where he played on the 1971 NAIA National Championship team for the “Kingsmen.” Michael suffered a career-ending knee injury during the 1972 season at CLU and once again turned to his gifted intellect to complete his bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine. For his academic excellence, Michael was awarded a scholarship to attend summer school at Harvard University and followed that with acceptance into the University of Oregon Dental School in 1973. Throughout his time in dental school, Michael continued his love for athletic competition and boxed competitively while winning numerous amateur tournaments in Oregon and Washington. Dr. Munoz graduated with a doctorate in medical dentistry in 1977. For the next decade and a half, Dr. Munoz practiced dentistry in the Phoenix metropolitan area. To stay connected to his athletic roots, Dr. Munoz worked as a professional boxing judge for many championship fights worldwide, played rugby for the Tempe Old Devils Rugby Club, competed in bull-riding and calf-roping, in addition to competing in power-lifting where he captured multiple Arizona State Power-Lifting Championships in the 1980s. Ultimately, Dr. Munoz was not fulfilled with his life as a dentist and chose to retire and return to his true passion, which was to train, coach, mentor, and promote amateur and professional fighters in his own training facility. Through a shared vision for the pursuit of athletic excellence, Michael worked with lifelong friend Jim Maher in developing Munoz Boxing Systems in conjunction with Strength Training Incorporated. From that time in his life until the day of his passing, Michael did what he loved most, working with those with the desire to develop their mind, body and spirit through pugilistic excellence. Michael’s hobbies outside of his life’s work were to travel, ski, hunt and fish with family members and friends. Michael will be immensely missed by all his family members, friends and his students of the sport. He is preceded in death by his father, Al B. Munoz, sister Valerie and brother Robert, and is survived by his mother Evangeline H. Munoz, fiancée Elizabeth, brothers Mark, Gregory and wife Tania, Zachary and wife Patricia, Bryan and wife Susie, nephews Joshua, and Luke, nieces Danielle, Talia, Victoria, Alana, Alyssa, and Sophia. You always loved us unconditionally, we love you and will miss you BIG brother until we meet again! Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at Menke Funeral Home, 12420 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, Ariz. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6180 W. Utopia Road, Glendale, Ariz. Interment will follow at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Ariz. Information provided by survivors. |
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