Frank A. "Inky" Pechek

Year Inducted: 2011 (p)
Nominated By: Ruth Hulsey
Sports Competed In: Basketball, Boxing
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S. in 1928.

Achievements:
● Played Semi-Pro for the second Walter's Brewery Team at Eiler's baseball field as a shortstop.
● Spent 11 years in Bantamweight division (1929-40).
● Was the Colorado Champion in the flyweight and lightweight division.
● Pueblo Amateur Champion (1929-31).
● A.A.U. Tri-State (Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico) Champion in 1931.
● Turned professional in 1923 and recorded 21 wins (eight by knock-out).
● Won the Professional Bantamweight Championship.
● Lost a bout to Jimmy Cordova at the Denver Olympic Club on 26th and Curtis. They had a rematch and “Inky” won, knocking Cordova down in first two rounds.
● Invited to the Lightweight National championship of the USA, held in Los Angeles, CA but couldn't afford to go.

Contributions:
● Put in 28 years of service to United States Army(1940-67).
● Survivor to the Bataan Death March.
● Prisoner of war World War II (by Japanese) for 40 Months.
● "Inky" never showed anger toward the Japanese.
● Paid off mortgage of parents home after being released from Fitzsimmons Army Hospital.
● With money he received from salary during time as a POW and the War Crimes reparation paid by the Japanese Government.
● Also worked as an Army Recruiter.
● Re-enlisted and offered to go to Vietnam.
● Lived in the family home until his death.
● Buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
● Pechek had a feature story on him in National Geographic Magazine, June 2007.
● Received many medal commendations including the Purple Hearts.

Personal:
Frank passed away on Sept. 12, 1987... Inducted posthumously into the GPSA Hall of Fame in 2011.