Year Inducted: 2006
Nominated By: Sam Corsentino (colleague)
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Basketball, Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach
High School:
Attended Pueblo County H.S. (PCHS), graduating in 1959...Three-sports standout for the Hornets, earning 12 letters and playing football (quarterback), basketball (guard) and baseball (shortstop) from 1955-59...During the summer between his high school years, Gary played shortstop for three seasons (1957-59) with the Pueblo-based American Legion team.
College:
Went to Colorado State College (University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, CO, where he graduated in 1963...While attending college, Salimeno played on the Bears baseball team for two years at shortstop (1960-62)...Played shortstop for Jones Mortuary, a Semi-Pro baseball team, for four seasons (1960-63) during summer months while in college...Continued his post-graduate studies at Colorado State University earning a Masters degree in 1969...Salimeno also put in 60+ hours above a Masters degree, various colleges & universities
Achievements:
Coaching:
● Found success wherever he coached, beginning as the varsity football coach at Pitts Junior H.S. (PJHS), for three seasons (1969-71).
● His teams at Pitts won 16 games while losing and tying once (16-1-1).
● Also was the wrestling and track coach at PJHS during that same span, and his wrestling team captured the city championship with a 9-1 record.
● Moved on to the high school level, coaching the junior varsity (JV) football team at Pueblo South H.S., for 11 years.
● Guided the Colts to one South Central League Championship with a 7-0 record.
● Served as an Offensive Coordinator on the Colts varsity football team for three seasons (1974-76).
● Led team to the South Central League Championship with an 8-2 record (1974)...His teams posted records of 9-1 in 1975 and 8-2 in 1976.
● Also served for one season (1973-74) as the JV baseball coach for Pueblo South H.S.
Honors:
● Awarded Outstanding Athlete at PCHS (1959).
● Played in Pueblo High School All-Star Baseball game.
● Representative for PCHS for Boy's State (1958).
Occuption:
Teacher/Coach School District #60
Personal:
Lives in Pueblo with his wife, Kathy (Pechek).
