Year Inducted: 1997
Nominated By: Paul Gradishar
Sports Competed In: Football, Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach
High School:
Attended Pueblo Roncalli H.S. and graduated in 1970...Earned 14 letters participating in football (safety/wide receiver), basketball (forward) and track (sprinter/jumper) for the Shamrocks from 1966-70).
College:
Went to Southern Colorado State College in Pueblo, CO, graduating in 1974...Four-year member (1970-74) of the football (wide receiver) and track teams (indoor and outdoor)...Continued post-graduate studies at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO, earning a Masters Degrees in the Physiology of Exercise in 1994.
Related Activities:
Played for three seasons (1987-90) on the Pueblo Crusaders as a wide receiver/punt returner.
Coaching Career:
● Started his coaching career at Beulah Junior high where he was the head basketball and track coach for a season (1974-75).
● Moved to Pueblo to spend the next 22 years as an assistant football coach and head boys and girls swimming and track coach at Pueblo County H.S. (1975-97).
● Also spent 21 years as the summer head coach for the United States Swim and 22 years as the Co-coordinator of swimming at Pueblo County Parks and Recreation.
Coaching Honors:
● Offensive Coordinator in 1984 and the defensive coordinator in 1987 vs. Broomfield in the state football playoffs.
● Won nine District Championships and and placed Runner-ups seven times as the Hornets swim coach.
● Coached swimming State Qualifiers 21 times out of 22 years.
● USS Swimming; Won 17 league titles.
● Track teams won three District Championships and finished runner-up twice in a seven-year span.
Achievements:
● Offensive Coordinator in 1984 and the defensive coordinator in 1987 vs. Broomfield in the state football playoffs.
● Won nine District Championships and and placed Runner-ups seven times as the Hornets swim coach.
● Coached swimming State Qualifiers 21 times out of 22 years.
● USS Swimming; Won 17 league titles.
● Track teams won three District Championships and finished runner-up twice in a seven-year span.
Football:
● Collegiate Football - played four years.
● All-Conference defensive safety, All-State alternate for the Southern League 1969.
Track:
● Collegiate Track - (Indoor & Outdoor) qualified for the Conference meet all four years.
● Four-time All-Conference, four-time State Qualifier.
● Pueblo Parks and Recreation Super Star Champion three consecutive years (1973-75).
Sub-Masters and Masters Track Runner: (1977-1997 - 20 years)
● Two-time Medallist in DTC of Colorado Decathlon 1979 and 1980.
● Undefeated in the 400 meters in the Rocky Mountain Masters Games and Colorado games for 18 of 20 years.
● All-American for 15 straight years.
● National Honors (top three) for six straight years.
● Two time Silver medalist, USA Track - International.
● Competition in Miyazaki, Japan and Buffalo, New York (competed in the 100 and 400 meter sprints as well as the 110 high hurdles and 400 hurdles).
● Seeking 1st Gold Medal in Durban, South Africa in July of 1997.
● Gold Metal winner at the Rocky Mountain Senior Games in Greeley (June 8-12, 2011).
● Won 100, 200, 400 meter races among all age groups - qualified for the master’s world championships in Sacramento, CA, July 7-17, 2011.
● Two-time Silver medalist, USA Track - International.
Contributions:
● National Olympic Venue Coordinator of the Sports Festival for Synchronized Swimming - 1978.
● Winningiest Coach in Colorado, third in the National Award Scholastic Coach Magazine (Swimming).
Occupation:
Teacher and Coach in school district #70.
Personal:
Lives in Pueblo, CO, with his wife Lisa.
