James A. "Spank" Blasing


Year Inducted: 1979
Nominated By: Harry Simmons
Sports Competed In: Cross Country, Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Contributor

James Blasing

High School:
Went to Manhattan, Kansas, H.S., graduated in 1941.

Achievements:
High School:
● Four-year letterman on both the football and track teams (1938-41).
● Selected All-State in football (1940-41).

College:
Went to Trinidad Junior College (TJC)...Transferred to Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas (graduated in 1949)...Worked on his Masters Degree at Kansas State University (graduated in 1954).

Achievements:
College:
● Played football two years (1941-43) and track one season (1942).
● Two-time All-Conference selection in both football and track.
● His coach at TJC was Harry Simmons.

Coaching Career:
● Spent five years (1949-54) as an all-sports coach at Clifton, Kansas H.S. and two years (1954-56) at Chapman, Kansas Community H.S.
● Worked for 28 years (1956-84) as an all-sports coach at Pueblo Junior College (PJC).
● Also served for five season (1959-63) as track coach at PJC.
● Named track coach at Southern Colorado State College (SCSC).
● At the NAIA National meet, the 440-relay team finished 5th in the nation (1965).
● During the 1966 season, the mile relay finished 6th and the team finished 22nd...Gene Morenz was 5th in 880.
● At the first NCAA College Division meet in 1967, the team placed 7th in the Nation...John Martinez won the mile and mile-relay team won.
● Coached the cross country team at University of Southern Colorado (USC)... Team scored 5th in nation.
Notable Athletes Coached:
● John Martinez finished 3rd in the mile to become SCSC's 1st All American.
● Members were Clayton Gail, John Martinez, Gene Morenz & Isaac Barnes...All were named to the All-American Team.

Occupation:
Teacher, coach and Assistant Athletic Director - PJC, SCSC, and USC.

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with his wife, Frances, Boles... Passed away on January 13, 2007.


GPSA "B" By The Numbers

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

 1

All Sports
Ernest E. "Ernie" Ballotti (1981*)

Athlete/Contributor
Dave Baxter (1981*)

Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Jordan B. Berge (2000)

Basketball/Football Offical
Dave Baxter (1981*)

Boxing
Jim Blanc (1989)

City Parks Supervisor of Recreation
Leonard Butler (1998)

Coach
Tom Brockman (1994)

Coach/Contributor
Raymond T. Baker (2009)

Contributor
Ross Beatty (1977*)

Cross Country
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

Girls Sports
Jessie F. Banks (1996)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)

Radio Announcer
Ross Beatty (1977*)

Tennis
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)

Wrestling
Jim Blanc (1989)

 

2
Basketball
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)

Softball
Robert "Bob" Bonner (2022)
Raymond T. Baker (2009)

Track
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

Athlete
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)

3
Basketball
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
William F. "Bill" Brown (1994)

 

4
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Raymond T. Baker (2009)
Leonard Butler (1998)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)

Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Robert "Bob" Bonner (2022)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jim Blanc (1989)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)
Jim Blanc (1989)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
Dave Baxter (1981*)
Lamar H.S., Lamar, CO
Tom Brockman (1994)
Thomas Jefferson H.S., Denver, CO
Joe Bonacquista (1997*)
Trinidad H.S., Trinidad, CO
William F. "Bill" Brown (1994)
Wray H.S., Wray, CO

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Jesse F. Banks (1996)
Lindsay H.S., Lindsey, OK
Ernest E. "Ernie" Ballotti (1981*)
Mooseheart H.S, Mooseheart, IL
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)
Manhattan H.S., Manhattan, KS
Ross Beatty (1977*)
Chicago H.S, Chicago, IL

Football
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Tom Brockman (1994)
Jim Blanc (1989)

 

 

 

6
Honorees Deceased
Ernie Ballotti (1981*)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)
Dave Baxter (1981*)
Ross Beatty (1977*)
Joe Bonaquista (1977*)

Baseball
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)
Jordan B. Berge (2000)
Joe Bonacquista (1997*)

 

6
Athlete/Coach
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Jordan B. Berge (2000)
Leonard Butler (1998)
Joe Bonacquista (1997*)
William F. "Bill" Brown (1994)

 

21
Honorees in "B" 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