Mike "Mills" Vunovich


Year Inducted: 1983 (p)
Nominated By: Mary Pomeleo
Sports Competed In: N/A
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach, Contributor

Ralph Lindsey

High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S., graduating in 1936.

College
Went to Pueblo Junior College in Pueblo, CO, and Adams State College in Alamosa, CO.

Achievements:
● Director of Pueblo County basketball program from 1939 to 1960.
● Director of Old Timers baseball program from early 1940 to 1960.

Professional Affiliation:
Member of the Colorado Association for Health and Physical Education and Recreation.

Honors:
● Earned several awards presented by many clubs and organizations for contributions to the youth of Pueblo.
● Recipient of the Pueblo Newspaper Guilds Award.
● Had Memorial Award named after him.

Mills protégés:
Vern Cochran
Jerry Ellis
Harvey Koshak
Leroy Novak
Ralph Romero


Nick Crusech
John Griffin
Tom Keach
Joe Puleo
George Simms

Jack Datz
Bucky Hall
Jack Ludlow
Bill Reid
Ernie Trujillo

Frank DeLeon
Dave Jackson
Bob Massar
John Rivas
Vic Velarde

Massar, Trujillo, Puleo, Knofelc [Knafelc] and DeLeon played professional ball - the others coached or played in college athletics.

Quotes:
"I would like to see a year round recreation program consisting of touch and regular Football, soccer, checkers, tennis, volleyball, crafts, boxing and wrestling.” He also included softball, crafts and sewing for girls. He was of the belief that a sound recreation program helps curb delinquency among juveniles. He felt he could accomplish this with $50,000 of City and County monies. Its ironic that 30 years later the City-County recreation program consists of all the activities he mentioned. It costs not $50,000 but $800,000 and is directed by a student of his from Hinsdale School.
-- Mike Vunovich on the limited funds the City-County Recreation Program centered around basketball and baseball

Occupations:
● Teacher and athletic coach in School District at Minnequa, Hinsdale and Somerlid Elementary Schools for five years (1945-50).
● Worked with Ed and Fred Smith in Recreation Programs.
● Also worked as a City and County Recreation Director.

Personal:
Passed away on December 20, 1960.


GPSA "V" By The Numbers

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

 1

Administrator
Mike "Mills" Vunovich (1983*p)

Athlete
John L. Veechio (1992*)
Athlete/Coach/Contrbutor
Richard John "Dick" Vinci (1996*)

Attended Pueblo County H.S.
Elizabeth Jane "Liz" Villegas (1998*p)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)

Basketball
Darrel "BigUn" Vaughan (2020*p)

Coach
Elizabeth Jane "Liz" Villegas (1998*p)

Volleyball
Richard John "Dick" Vinci (1996*)

2
Athlete/Coach
Darrel "BigUn" Vaughan (2020*p)
Richard S. "Rich" Vivoda (1984*)

Track
Darrel "BigUn" Vaughan (2020*p)
Richard John "Dick" Vinci (1996*)

 

3
Football
Darrel "BigUn" Vaughan (2020*p)
John L. Veechio (1992*)
Richard S. "Rich" Vivoda (1984*)

Honorees Awarded Posthoumously
Darrel "BigUn" Vaughan (2020*p)
Elizabeth Jane "Liz" Villegas (1998*p)
Mike "Mills" Vunovich (1983*p)

 

 

 

5
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Darrel "BigUn" Vaughan (2020*p)
Richard John "Dick" Vinci (1996*)
John L. Veechio (1992*)
Richard S. "Rich" Vivoda (1984)
Mike "Mills" Vunovich (1983*p)

 

6
Honorees Deceased
Darrel "BigUn" Vaughan (2020*p)
Elizabeth Jane "Liz" Villegas (1998*p)
Richard John "Dick" Vinci (1996*)
John L. Veechio (1992*)
Richard S. "Rich" Vivoda (1984*)
Mike "Mills" Vunovich (1983*p)

 

6
Honorees in "V" 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