In 31 years at Harris Middle School, Robert Moszee has seen a lot of things. But one thing he did not expect to see was his name on the new scoreboard on the football field unveiled at the Harris Centennial Celebration Sept. 23.

“We’ve got some sneaky folks here at Harris,” Moszee said. “They did a good job of keeping quiet about the whole event.”

The moment came at the end of the centennial ceremony, following remarks from principal Kevin Hilliard, Superintendent Jaime Aquino, and trustee Art Valdez. Retired Harris Principal Dr. Carol Velazquez stood at the podium as the sign was unveiled, and Moszee, still unaware, got to see that it was labeled “Moszee Field.”

“I thought I was needed to say a few words about it taking 10 years to get the scoreboard,” Moszee said. “I was very surprised to see my name there.”

Moszee, a district alumnus, has been an integral part of Harris for three decades, all of them spent as an  in-school suspension teacher and a coach. 

He saw a lot of the district in his youth. He attended first, second and third grade at Washington Elementary; fourth, fifth and sixth at Herff Elementary; seventh at Poe Middle School; and eighth and ninth at Page Middle School before attending Brackenridge High School and graduating in 1974. At Brack, he excelled in both football and track.

“Athletics and sports have been a part of my life since I was young,” Moszee said. “I would not have been able to attend college if it had not been for sports.”

Based on this athletic skill, he accepted a full scholarship to New Mexico Highlands University, where he was an all-conference defensive back all four years. He was inducted into the Highlands University Football Hall of Fame in 2019. 

He says he’s grateful to the coach that introduced him to sports for all the lessons he’s learned and tries to do the same for students at Harris.

“Competing in sports prepares one for life,” Moszee said. “It teaches you how to be humble in success. It teaches you how to deal with pain and sorrow in a loss. It teaches you how to be resilient in bouncing back from a setback.”

In his time at Harris, there have been many successes. His teams have won seven zone championships in football, eight in cross country, five in basketball, nine in track, and one in soccer. Harris has also won 21 district golf championships in a row. 

What’s kept him at Harris so long? The people. 

“Harris has been a special place for me,” Moszee said. “I have been fortunate to work with some tremendous individuals. I also love the students and community.”

And Harris, an International Baccalaureate World School, embraces culture. Moszee said he is particularly attached to the Hispanic culture the school celebrates.

“My mom was born and raised in Mexico,” Moszee said. “She spoke beautiful Spanish from the old country. As a kid, my grandmother would tell us stories about Pancho Villa passing through their small village.”

As a new scoreboard at Harris honors this man who has made a difference in the lives of so many, he vows to stay there until he finally decides to retire, someday.

“Over the years, I’ve had opportunities to go somewhere else, but I’ve never had the urge to leave Harris,” Moszee said. “Retirement for me is right around the corner. But until that time comes, I will continue to do what I’ve done for the past 31 years — motivate and inspire students at Harris Middle School to be a success in life.”