Jim Blanc


Year Inducted: 1989
Nominated By: Paul Garbiso
Sports Competed In: Boxing, Football, Wrestling 
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Contributor

Willie Wright

High School:
Went to Pueblo Centennial H.S., graduated in 1951...Lettered a year as an offensive guard for the Bulldogs football team (1950-51).

College:
Attended both Pueblo Junior College (PJC) and Western State (1962). Two-year letterman in football (1951-52) playing both offensive and defensive guard... Captain of the homecoming football game.

Athlete (Boxing):
● Fought in every weight (112-147) as an Amateur for nine years (1948-56).
● Posted a record of 26 Wins and 8 Loses.
● Southern Colorado Featherweight Golden Gloves Champion (1951).
● Tried out for the 1956 Olympics in Boxing - Sacramento, California and Stockton, California 147# Welterweight.

Coaching Career:
● Served three seasons each as an assistant wresting coach (1964-66) and assistant football coach (1967-69) at Pueblo County H.S. (PCHS).
● Head coach of two city women's softball programs (McDonalds and The A & W Team) during the summers of 1969-71...Posted a record 78 wins and 4 losses.
● Won the City Championship (1970-71).
● Head Coach PCHS (1969-71).
● Co-Head Coach at PCHS (1970-72).
● Coach of the first wrestling team to win the Southern Colorado League Championship (1972).
● Served five years as the assistant track coach for the Hornets (1967-73).
● Worked two seasons (1970-71) as the golf co-head coach at PCHS.
● Started the Hornets cross country program in 1970 then turned over to Jeff Arnold.

Related Activities:
● Spent nine years (1973-82) as the Assistant Principal & Activities Director at Pueblo County H.S.
● Appointed to the Baseball Committee for the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) in 1975.
● Hired as the Principal at Pueblo County H.S. for four years (1983-87).
● President of the South Central League (1983).
● Served two years on the Executive Committee of the CHSAA (1985-87).
● Served on the CHSAA baseball committee and helped getting the state Baseball Tournament in Pueblo in 1979.
● Completed a one-year term as President of the Southern League (1985-86).

Occupation:
Teacher, coach and administrator for School District #70.

Personal:
Lives in Pueblo, CO with his wife, Alberta.


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