John Loia


Year Inducted: 2023
Nominated By: Pat Laughlin
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Football, Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach

John LoiaJohn Loia

High School:
A 1969 graduate of Morristown High School, in Morristown NJ...Played baseball, football and track.

College:
Attended Southern Colorado State College (SCSC) where he was a sprinter on the track team (three years) and running back on the Indians football team (two years).

Achievements:
College:
● Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Champions 4x440 relay (1973).

Achievements:
Track Coach:
● Head Boys Track Coach at Central High School (1982-1987).
● City Champions, Regional Champions, Centennial Invitational Champions, Hornet Invitational Champions (1984).
● Qualified 19 Individuals for State.
● Coached State Champion (Charles Puga) to shot put title in 1985.
● Coached 30 All-State athletes during his career.

Achievements:
Football Coach:
● Head Football Coach at Central High School (1984-1993).
● Runner up in South-Central League (S-CL) with a 7-3 record; Qualified for State Playoffs (1987).
● Co-S-CL League Champions (7-3 record); Qualified for State Playoffs (1988).
● Three-time winner of the Bell Game (1985, 1988, 1990).

Contributions:
● Established the "Ray Brunjack" 110% Award: The Scholarship is given to a Senior Football Player voted by the coaches. The Scholarship goes toward college expenses.
● Chosen as High School Administrator "Hero-of-the-Week" for outstanding leadership contributions to your school and community, excelling in activities around athletics,               speech, and leadership in the classroom.
● S-CL Representative for the state playoff seeding in football.
● Member of Central Foundation.
● Speaker of S-CL Fundamentals of "Trap Play".
● Keynote Speaker Central Athletic Banquet.
● Named "Colorado Athletic-Director-of-the-Week" by 850 KRDO Radio Denver Bronco and the Colorado High School Activities Association.

Related Activities:
● Came out of retirement to continue to support and shine a light on the youth of the Pueblo community by contributing to Roncalli STEM Academy (2013-2020) and Risley              International Academy of Innovation (2020-current).
● Consultant to Behavior Intervention (2013-present).
● Assistant Principal/Athletic Director East High School (2007-08).
● Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Central High School (1998-2007).
● Assistant Principal/Athletic Director East High School (1995-1998).
● Physical Education and Health Teacher Central High School (1974-1994).

Personal:
John has lived in Pueblo for 56 years with his wife Cindy.


By The Numbers "L"

GPSA "L" By The Numbers

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

1
Archery

Phyllis Long (1986)

Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Richard B. "Rich" Lane (2017)

Athlete/Contributor
Dan Luna (1997*)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
Phyllis Long (1986)
Canon City H.S., Canon City, CO

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
John Thomas Lane (2019*p)

Attended Pueblo County/Pueblo South H.S.
Timmie-Jo Miller-Lisac (2017)

Charter Member
Raymond E. "Red" LeMasters (1973*+)

Golf
James Lucero (1995*)

Pueblo Gymnastics School
James Lucero (1995*)

Pueblo Swim Program
JoAnne "Jody" Lane (1985*)

Soccer
Nadia Lopez (2021)

Tennis
Dan Luna (1997*)

 

2
Boxing
Ernie "the Fighting Gamecock" Lara (1989*)
Ralph E. "Giggs" Lindsey (1983*)

Contributors
James Lucero (1995*)
Jo Anne "Jody" Lane (1985)

Cross Country
John C. Lenhart, Jr. (1993)
Dick Ledoux (1984)

Softball
Timmie-Jo Miller-Lisac (2017)
George Luiz (1995)

Wrestling
Clif Laughlin (2022)
Pat Laughlin (2019)

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
John Loia (2023)
Morrison H.S., Morrison, N.J.
George Luiz (1995)
Jefferson H.S., Rochester, N.Y.
Omar Joseph "Turk" Lown (1976)
Lane H.S., Queens, N.Y.

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Raymond Earl "Ray" LeMasters II (1989*p)
Ralph E. "Giggs" Lindsey (1983*)
Raymond E. "Red" LeMasters (1973*+)

Baseball
John Loia (2023)
John M. "Mike" Lynch (2004)
Omar Joseph "Turk" Lown (1976)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
John Thomas Lane (2019*p)
Raymond Earl "Ray" LeMasters II (1989*p)
Edward "Ed" Lesar (1974*p)

4
Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Clif Laughlin (2022)
Pat Laughlin (2019)
Keith Allen Lane (2011)
Dick Ledoux (1984)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Nadia Lopez (2021)
John M. "Mike" Lynch (2004)
John C. Lenhart, Jr. (1993)
Dick Ledoux (1984)

5
Athlete/Coach
John Loia (2023)
Clif Laughlin (2022)
Timmie-Jo Miller-Lisac (2017)
Keith Allen Lane (2011)
John M. "Mike" Lynch (2004)

Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Dave Lockett (2006)
Dan Luna (1997*)
James Lucero (1995*)
Jo Anne "Jody" Lane (1985)
Edward "Ed" Lesar (1974*p)

Coaches
Pat Laughlin (2019)
Dave Lockett (2006)
John C. Lenhart, Jr. (1993)
Raymond Earl "Ray" LeMasters II (1989*p)
Edward "Ed" Lesar (1974*p)

Track
John Loia (2023)
Richard B. "Rich" Lane (2017)
John M. "Mike" Lynch (2004)
John C. Lenhart, Jr. (1993)
Dick Ledoux (1984)

 

7
Basketball
Nadia Lopez (2021)
Timmie-Jo Miller-Lisac (2017)
John M. "Mike" Lynch (2004)
Raymond Earl "Ray" LeMasters II (1989*p)
Ralph E. "Giggs" Lindsey (1983*)
Edward "Ed" Lesar (1974*p)
Raymond E. "Red" LeMasters (1973*+)

8
Athlete
Nadia Lopez (2021)
John Thomas Lane (2019*p)
George Luiz (1995)
Ernie "the Fighting Gamecock" Lara (1989*)
Phyllis Long (1986)
Dick Ledoux (1984)
Omar Joseph "Turk" Lown (1976)
Raymond E. "Red" LeMasters (1973*+)

Honorees Deceased
James Lucero (1995*)
John Thomas Lane (2019*p)
JoAnne "Jody" Lane (1985*)
Ernie "the Fighting Gamecock" Lara (1989*)
Raymond Earl "Ray" LeMasters II (1989*p)
Ralph E. "Giggs" Lindsey (1983*)
Edward "Ed" Lesar (1974*p)
Raymond E. "Red" LeMasters (1973*+)

10
Football
John Loia (2023)
Clif Laughlin (2022)
John Thomas Lane (2019*p)
Richard B. "Rich" Lane (2017)
Keith Allen Lane (2011)
John M. "Mike" Lynch (2004)
Raymond Earl "Ray" LeMasters II (1989*p)
Ralph E. "Giggs" Lindsey (1983*)
Edward "Ed" Lesar (1974*p)
Raymond E. "Red" LeMasters (1973*+)

 

 

23
Honorees in "L" 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