James Joseph Flood


Year Inducted: 2003
Nominated By: Dick Vinci
Sports Competed In: Boxing Football, Wrestling
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

Louie D. Carleo

High School:
Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S., graduating in 1953...Lettered four years each from 1949-53 in football (end and fullback) and basketball (forward)...Flood was a two-time 1st Team All Conference in football and named 1st Team All Conference one season in basketball.

College:
Went to Pueblo Junior College and played football (end) and was on the boxing team (156 lbs.) for a year (1955-56) before transferring to Sacramento State College (SSC), where he graduated in 1959.. At SSC, spent three years (1956-59) as a boxer at both 156 lbs. and 165 lbs.

Achievements:
College:
● Competed in the 1956 Olympic Trials where he finished runner-up as he was unable to fight in the finals due to a cut.
● Won numerous tournaments, among them: San Jose State, Michigan State, Idaho State, Washington State and University of Nevada Tournaments as well as the 1957 California Polytechnic Tournament and the University of California Tournament.
● NCAA National Champion (1958) at 156 lbs. and placed runner-up at the NCAA Tournament at 165 lbs. in 1959 (He won the semi-final and was unable to defend his title due to a cut).
● Won the Invitational Intercollegiate Boxing Tournament (165 lbs.).
● Chosen twice as the "Outstanding Athlete" at California State University-Sacramento.
● Named to the National Intercollegiate Boxing Association First Team All American (1959).
● Won the 1960 Russ Newland Memorial Award for the Best Boxer. 

Military:
Joined the U.S. Army for two years (1953-55) where he was on the boxing team at 156 lbs... Won the 1954 Northeast Overseas Boxing Tournament (156 lbs.) which took place at St. Johns, Newfoundland...Placed runner-up at the 1955 Service Championship Tournament held at Parks Air Force Base.

Boxing Career:
Southern Colorado Golden Gloves Champion Colorado Golden Gloves Champion...Boxed professionally for two years (1960-62) at 156 lbs and posted a career record of 12 wins and 2 losses...Professional boxing career cut short due to an injury in 1961...Named the "Best Preliminary Boxer of 1960" by the Society of California Boxing.

Coaching Career:
Started his coaching career as an assistant in the football program, the head coach of both the boxing and track teams for three years (1955-57) at Pueblo Catholic H.S...Spent the next two seasons (1957-58) as the head football coach at St. Mary's H.S., before being hired on as an assistant football and track coach at Colorado College where he worked for 32 years (1959-91).

Quote:
"Jim Flood semifinal bout at 165 pounds was the "The greatest fight ever in the NCAA championship history"... "Jim had one of the remarkable careers as a collegiate and golden glove boxers. An opponent never defeated Jim. His 3 or 4 losses came due to cuts. Jim was ahead in points and the ring doctor stopped the match due to a cut or Jim won the previous night but the ring doctor would not let him fight the next night due a cut...Jim probably would have been a three time NCAA boxing champion but the ring doctor made Jim forfeit the 1959 title due to a cut."
-- an article published in "Sports Illustrated" in 1959, The Jesse Landenberg.

Honors:
Inducted into the Sacramento Valley Boxing Association Hall of Fame (1984)...Inducted into the California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) Hall of Fame (2002).

Occupation:
Was a coach & Athletic Director for 30 years (1961-91) for the California Youth Authority.


GPSA "F" By The Numbers

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

 1
Athlete/Coach/Administrator
Joseph M. Folda (2006)

Coach
C.T. "Fitz" Fitzgerald (1986*)

Coach/Contributor
Pete Falletta (2004)

Marathon
Judy M. Fellhauer (1994)

Softball
Sam F. "Rabbit" Ferraro (1992*)

Tennis
Edmund Francis (2001)

Attended Pleasant View H.S.
Sam F. "Rabbit" Ferraro (1992*)

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
James Joseph Flood (2003)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Jack "Keith" Frazier (2019)

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
C.T. "Fitz" Fitzgerald (1986*)
Pocahontas H.S., Pocahontas, IA

 2
Boxing
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
James Joseph Flood (2003)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
Joseph M. Folda (2006)
Sterling H.S., Sterling, CO
Hoy E. Frakes (1981*)
Greeley H.S., Greeley, CO

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
James L. "Jim" Fimple (1977*)

Cross Country
Pete Falletta (2004)
Judy M. Fellhauer (1994)

 

3
Athlete
James Joseph Flood (2003)
Sam F. "Rabbit" Ferraro (1992*)
James L. "Jim" Fimple (1977*)

Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Pete Falletta (2004)
Edmund Francis (2001)
Judy M. Fellhauer (1994)

Wrestling
Jack "Keith" Frazier (2019)
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
Hoy E. Frakes (1981*)

5
Athlete/Coach
Jack "Keith" Frazier (2019)
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
Edmund Francis (2001)
Judy M. Fellhauer (1994)
Hoy E. Frakes (1981)

Basketball
Joseph M. Folda (2006)
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
Sam F. "Rabbit" Ferraro (1992*)
C.T. "Fitz" Fitzgerald (1986*)
James L. "Jim" Fimple (1977*)

Football
Jack "Keith" Frazier (2019)
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
James Joseph Flood (2003)
C.T. "Fitz" Fitzgerald (1986*)
James L. "Jim" Fimple (1977*)

Honorees Deceased
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
Sam F. "Rabbit" Ferraro (1992*)
C.T. "Fitz" Fitzgerald (1986*)
Hoy Frakes (1981*)
James L. "Jim" Fimple (1977*)

Track
Jack "Keith" Frazier (2019)
Pete Falletta (2004)
Frank Thomas Flood (2003*)
Judy M. Fellhauer (1994)
James L. "Jim" Fimple (1977*)

 

11
Honorees in "F" 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