Paula Henson


Year Inducted: 2017
Nominated By: Ruth Shelton
Sports Competed In: Softball, Tennis
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

Paula HensonHigh School:
Attended Penrose H.S., gradiuating in 1963...Paula was a shortstop on the softball team.

Softball Achievements:
Henson is regarded as one of the top female softball (fast and slowpitch) players in Pueblo history, having won numerous titles and awards playing in Pueblo League (Sidewinders, Morrison League) M.V.P; All-Tourney, All-League and maintained .400 batting average...Since her early youth, Paula has been an outstanding athlete, playing in the Canon City League Divisions 12U, 14U, 16U...Henson played in slow pitch Regional and State Tourney's in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Denver...She also played on a squad that qualified for CO-ED Nationals in Modesto California.

Tennis Achievements:
She started playing tennis at age 34, again, excelling in winning numerous tournaments and awards. Some highlights were:
● Mother-Daughter Family Equitable Tournament in New York at U.S. Open.
● Doubles- Mother & Daughter- Paper Cup 1988. Won Paper Cup at this level in 1989.
● National Qualifier Women's level 4-5.
● Served on Pueblo Tennis Club Board 1982-1998.
● Headed Junior Committee and Colorado Tennis Association Committee 1992-1998.
● Qualifier 50 & Over Sectional Tournament 4-5 women in Boise, Idaho (1999).
● Ranked 4th, 35 & Over Mixed Doubles in 5.0 (1992).
● Ranked 2nd, Mixed Doubles in 5.0 (1994).
●Ranked 2nd, 35 & Over Mixed Doubles in 5.0 (1995).

She still plays USTA as a "senior" (50+) and has won several State and Sectional tournaments.

Contributions:
She was 26 years old when Paula started officiating volleyball as a Charter Member of the Colorado Volleyball Officials Association (CVOA) in 1975. In 2005, she became one of only 14 in the State to achieve the status of having officiated Volleyball for 30 years. She worked girls middle and high school Volleyball in Pueblo, Canon City, Florence, Hoehne, Cotopaxi, and Walsenburg. She excelled workinng at High School District and Regional playoffs each of those years and had been selected ten times to work the State Tournament.

Paula has served two different terms as Area 4 Director (for a total of eight years). Her responsibilities included assigning officials, contacting area schools and, of course, conducting the weekly meetings. She also helped organize many Area Clinics (in the early years, each Area had its own clinic) and assisted with clinics.

Related Activities:
Henson competes in six leagues of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Personal:
Paula has lived most of her life in Pueblo and is married to Steve Henson, managing editor of  The Pueblo Chieftain... The couple have three children, Tia, Chandra and Casey.


GPSA "H" By The Numbers

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

1
Administrator
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Athlete/Administrator
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)

Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Richard 'Dick" Hime (2022 *p)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)

Athlete/Contributor
Paula Henson (2017)

Attended St. Patrick's H.S.
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Steve Henson (2002)

Auto Racing
William B. 'Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000*)

Boxing
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)

Cross Country
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)

Statistician
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Swimming
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)

Track
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)

Wrestling
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

 

2
Athlete/Official
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

Softball
Paula Henson (2017)
Ruth Hulsey (1983*)

 

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
John Muir H.S., Pasadena, CA
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999)
Central Catholic H.S., Pittsburgh, PA
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
College View H.S., Lincoln, NE

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Henry Robert "Bob" Haley (1978)

Coach
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
Henry Robert "Bob" Haley (1978)

Editor/Sportswriter/Owner
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Frank Steven Hoag, Jr. (1975*)

Official
Paula Henson (2017)
James "Newell" Hall (1984*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

Tennis
Paula Henson (2017)
Steve Henson (2002)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)

Track
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)

 

5
Contributor
Paula Henson (2017)
William Joseph "Bill" Hybl (2010)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Frank Steven Hoag, Jr. (1975*)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)

Athlete
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Brian Hochevar (1993)

 

6
Baseball
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)0)

 

7
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
William B. "Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Roger A. Hargraves (2006*p)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Basketball
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)


8
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
William Joseph "Bill" Hybl (2010)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
James "Newell" Hall (1984*)
Mike William Housh (1983)
Ruth Louise Hulsey (1983*)

11
Athlete/Coach
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Steve Henson (2002)
William B. "Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Mike William Housh (1983)
Ruth Louise Hulsey (1983*)

Football
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
Mike William Housh (1983)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

 

18
Honorees Deceased
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger A. Hargraves (2006*p)
William B. 'Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000*)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
J. Newell Hall (1984*)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
Ruth Hulsey (1983*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)
Frank S. Hoag, Jr. (1975*)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)

 

32
Honorees in "H" 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