53 Years of Service to the Pueblo Community

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) is a group of people interested in promoting those prominent athletes, sports teams and recreational activities in Pueblo County to be a part of the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame.

Jessie Banks, recognized as the most influential figure in the development of women’s athletics at Colorado State University Pueblo (initially known as Southern Colorado State College and the University of Southern Colorado), passed away on Friday, February 20. She was 90 years old.

Born August 20, 1935, in Lindsay, Oklahoma, Banks earned an undergraduate degree from Central Oklahoma in Edmond and her master’s degree from Adams State in 1966. She coached at USC through the 1985 season and retired as a physical education professor in 1996.

CSU Pueblo’s annual women’s athlete of the year award is named after Banks, and the school presents an endowed scholarship in her name annually.

Banks was a professional basketball player for the All-American Redheads between 1954 and 1959, and she was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., as an enshrined member of the team in 2012. She and her Redheads have been enshrined in HOFs in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. In addition to her induction into the CSU Pueblo HOF, Banks has been enshrined in the Lindsay (Okla.) High School, the University of Central Oklahoma, Colorado Coaches of Girls’ Sports, the RMAC, and the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame.

A Pueblo resident for over 60 years, Banks was inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) in 1996. She was the only woman in that induction class of five, which included Joe Andenucio, Dave Dudley, Dick Vinci, and Joel Herzog (posthumously).

Since 2006, the GPSA has honored the top female scholar-athlete at CSU Pueblo with the Jessie Banks Award at its induction banquet. To date, 37 recipients have been honored.

Most of the content of this article was published by Tim Simmons, with additions from John Barker, Jr., GPSA Media Relations Director.

Frank Whalen, born January 20, 1944, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 2, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Frank was an incredible athlete and was honored as a 2025 inductee into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame. Beyond his athletic accomplishments, he was a truly honorable man who treated every person he met with the utmost respect. A fighter in every sense of the word, Frank was a cancer survivor whose strength, integrity, and character inspired all who knew him.

Above all, Frank loved his wife deeply and cherished his family wholeheartedly. His legacy is one of faith, perseverance, humility, and unwavering love.

He is survived by the love of his life and devoted wife of 63 years, Mary Beth. He also leaves behind his children: Erin (Chris) Herrera, Patricia (Kim) Voss, and Frank (Holly) Whalen. Frank treasured his grandchildren — Taylor Voss, Cory (fiancée Harli Butler) Voss, Ian Herrera, Perrie Whalen, and Jace Whalen — who were the pride and joy of his life.

Obituary written by Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors, Inc., Pueblo, CO.

Marla is a retired Physical Education teacher and coach. A 1977 graduate of Pueblo Centennial High School, she has always been passionate about teaching and coaching student-athletes to their full potential.

Lanham was one of four women inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) class of 2014 (Shelly Borton, Kendra Nogare-Drury, and Shiloh Justice were the others). During her 32 years of service with School District 60, she was named Outstanding Health Educator " and "Teacher of the Year" for Colorado Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) in 2003.

Marla coached both gymnastics and swimming at Pueblo Central High School. She led the Wildcats to the gymnastics team title in 2006 and finished state runner-up three other times (2007-09). Since retiring, Lanham has served as a swimming official and as the District 6 representative for Pueblo swim officials.

Lanham was a single parent raising two daughters when they were little. They both have a college degree and are doing well for themselves.

Marla has always been involved with sports as a student, teacher, and coach. She is so grateful to have been inducted into the GPSA class of 2014, and she wanted to be a part of this great organization. This is Marla’s first year with our association.

With the professional baseball season right around the corner, Mike Thompson, who has spent his entire career at Rawlings, has donated a one-of-a-kind book on Major League Baseball called “Finest in the Field.”

It's an extraordinary book about the history of the baseball glove and features the best players in MLB history. Thompson, a member of the GPSA Class of 2024, has written an introduction about his career and experiences at Rawlings.

For those of you who don't remember, Mike started his journey at Herb's Sport Shop, an important part of Pueblo history.

Thanks to Mike for making this generous gift to the GPSA!

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) committee members for 2026 will start meeting 1 hour before our monthly meetings (6 p.m.) to discuss the GPSA's future direction. We will share our ideas as they develop in future issues of our monthly newsletter.