Joe "Joe T" Lewis Taravella


Year Inducted: 2021 (p)
Nominated By: Annette Daurio
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Basketball, Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Contributor

Joe TaravellaJoe Taravella

High School:
Attended Pueblo Central for one season (1958-59) ...Transferred to Pueblo South for his remaining three years (1959-61).

Achievements:
High School:
● Played outfield on the Wildcats baseball team (1958-59).
● Earned 6 letters playing three sports for the Colts: football (2), basketball (2) and baseball (2).
● As a running back for the Colts, he scored both the first touchdown and the longest kickoff in South's history.
● Two-time winner of the All-City football trophy (1959-60).
● Played forward on the basketball team.
● As an outfielder on the Colts baseball team, helped South to the 1961 Class 3A baseball crown.
● Named to the All-State baseball tournament team and earned All-City team selection.

College:
Attended Pueblo College (which was then named Southern Colorado State College) from 1961-65...He played outfield for the Indians baseball team.

Coaching Career:
From 1972-76, Pueblo South competed for South-Central League and City Championships in both football and basketball under his leadership leadership.

Related Activities:
● Played in the outfield for the City Diamonds, and the Legion Post 203 teams (1959-61).
● One of the Legion's leading hitters (.350) as a member of the Post 203 squad and helped the team to the Southern Colorado league title while earning All-State (1961).

Contributions:
● Long-time football official and a physical education teacher for 31 years.
● Part of many educational and coaching organizations as well as a softball coach for three years.

Quote:
“Coach Taravella mentored many lives as a baseball, football, and basketball coach. His style of coaching bordered on ground-breaking methods. During his coaching career, he educated himself and fellow coaches by studying each sport that included attending teaching camps that were only just being introduced in sports. His dedication to each sport was at a level that was noticed by his peers, players, and player's families. Coach Taravella would always go the extra mile with technique instruction and positive reinforcement that made each player he touched succeed or more importantly - they believed they succeeded.”

Personal:
Long-time Pueblo resident (77 years) ...Married to Ruth and had two grown children (Sam and Stacie) … Joe passed away on Jan. 2, 2021.



GPSA "T" By The Numbers

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

1
Administrator

Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM*)

Athlete/Contributor
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
John Paul Tate (1986*)
La Junta H.S., La Junta, CO

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Dennis Robert Trujillo (2007*)

Golf
Olga E. Tezak (1974*)

GPSA Charter Member
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)

GPSA Lifetime Member
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM*)

Wrestling
Curt J. "Top Cat" Topping (2013)

Youth Basketball
Ruben Tafoya (1985*)

 

2
Athlete/Coach/Administrator
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Deward Lee "Dewey" Thornton (1998)

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Everett C. "Ev" Thalhamer (2014)
East Aurora H.S., East Aurura, IL
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)
Muskegon H.S., Muskegon, MI

Attended Pueblo Roncalli H.S.
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Carl Michael Taibi (1997*)

Coach
Frederick Martin "Fred" Trujillo (2002)
John Paul Tate (1986*)

Softball
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)

 

 

3
Athlete/Coach
Everett C. "Ev" Thalhamer (2014*)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Curt J. "Top Cat" Topping (2013)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)
Jerry K. Traylor (1991*)

Baseball
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)

Contributor
Jerry K. Traylor (1991*)
Ruben Tafoya (1985*)
Homer C. Thompson (1977*)

Tennis
Everett C. "Ev" Thalhamer (2014*)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM*)

Track
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Dennis Robert Trujillo (2007*)
John Paul Tate (1986*)

 

4
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Deward Lee "Dewey" Thornton (1998)
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM*)

 
5
Athlete
Curt J. "Top Cat" Topping (2013)
Dennis Robert Trujillo (2007*)
Carl Michael Taibi (1997)
Olga E. Tezak (1974*)
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)

Basketball
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)
Deward Lee "Dewey" Thornton (1998)
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)

Football
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Carl Michael Taibi (1997*)
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM*)

 

11
Honorees Deceased
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
Everett C. "Ev" Thalhamer (2014*)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Dennis Robert Trujillo (2007*)
Carl Michael Taibi (1997*)
Jerry K. Traylor (1991*)
John Paul Tate (1986*)
Ruben Tafoya (1985*)
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM*)
Homer C. Thompson (1977*)
Olga E. Tezak (1974*)

 

17
Honorees in "T" 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