Gary L. Knafelc


Year Inducted: 1973
Nominated By: Mike Leonard
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Boxing, Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

Gary L. Knaflec

High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S., graduating in 1950.

Achievements:
High School:
● Won 10 letters playing several sports over four years (1945-50) for the Wildcats.
● Top-flight Golden Gloves boxer in high school.

College:
Attended the University of Colorado, where he graduated in 1954.

Achievements:
College:
● Earned three letters in football.
● Member of the Buffaloes football team, playing four seasons (1950-53) at wide receiver/defensive end.
● Averaged 57 minutes per game his senior year.
● Named All-Big 7 and All-American in 1953.
● Played in East-West Shrine and College All-Star games.

Achievements:
Professional Football:
● Drafted in 1954 in the second round by Chicago Cardinals and released because of a severe hamstring injury.
● Picked up by the Green Bay Packers where he played for eight seasons (1955-62).
● Appeared in four Western Conference Championships and three World Championship games.
● Played on the World Championship Green Bay Packers Team in 1961 and 1962.
● The only player on the Packers team, to be carried off the City Stadium (or Lambeau Field) by fans after catching a pass from Tobin Rote in the final minute to beat Detroit 20-17 in the 1955 opener.
● Finished career as the Packers’ eighth on all-time receiving list.
● Played final season (1963) as a tight end with the San Francisco 49ers.

Occupation:
● Professional football player.
● Served as the pubic address announcer at all the home games of the Green Bay Packers for the last 40+ years.
● An officer in three corporations in Green Bay.

Personal:
Lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin with his wife, Emily...Passed away on Dec. 19, 2022.

Photo of Knaflec courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel.


GPSA "K" By The Numbers

LEGEND: p = awarded posthumously; ^= attended first meeting; * = deceased;+ = charter member (placed after year inducted)

 1
Athlete
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)

Athlete/Contributor
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended First GPSA Meeting
Loren Kilstofte (2003*>)

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended Pueblo West H.S.
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Coach
Casey King (2023)

Football National Champion (MLFS)
Todd Kelly (2023)

Golf
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Softball
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Sports Information Director
Todd Kelly (2023)

Swimming
David S. Knapp (1988)

Volleyball
Casey King (2023)

Wrestling
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)

 2
Athlete/Coach/Official
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)

Attended H.S. in Colorado
Casey King (2023)
John Mall H.S., Walsenburg, CO
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Rye H.S., Rye, CO

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
David S. Knapp (1988)

Boxing
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Coach/Administrator
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)

Contributor
Rocky Khosla, M.D. (2020)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)

GPSA Charter Member
Thomas E. Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Track
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Wesleyville H.S., Wesleyville, PA
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Winona H.S., Winona, MN
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)
Lisbon H.S., Lisbon, IA

4
Baseball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

5
Athlete/Coach
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
David S. Knapp (1988)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Honorees Deceased
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

6
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

7
Basketball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)

8
Football
Todd Kelly (2023)
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

 

18
Honorees in "K" Section

 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN GPSA INDUCTEES

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2023 induction ceremony on Nov. 15.

 

 

Daniel RosalesDaniel
Rosales

12/13/2023
Class of 2002

Everett C. ThalhamerEverett C.
Thalhamer

12/23/2023
Class of 2014

Bob GrahamBobby Max
Graham

02/26/2024
Class of 1990

Joe BonaquistaJoe
Bonaquista

07/16/2024
Class of 1977