Year Inducted: 1996
Nominated By: Joe Cervi
Sports Competed In: Track, Volleyball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Contributor
High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S., graduating in 1950.
College:
Went Pueblo Junior College (PJC) for two years (1951-52) and participated in football (tight end) basketball (center) and track (440-yard dash/mile relay)...Transferred to Sacramento State University (SSU), Sacramento CA (1952-55) where he played football, basketball (center/forward) and was a member of the track squad specializing in the 440-yard dash/mile relay...Graduated from SSU in 1955...Continued his post-graduate studies at Western State College, graduating in 1967 with a Masters Degree.
Related Activities:
● Served in the US Army and was a member of the basketball team (center/forward) and the volleyball squad (hitter) for three seasons (1955-57).
● Played center for 10 years (1958-68) with Stavast/Gradishar Construction.
Coaching Career:
Football:
● Asst. Coach: Risley Junior H.S.(1957-58).
● Asst. Coach: Pueblo East H.S. (1959).
● Asst. Coach: Pitts Junior H.S.(1960-68).
Basketball:
● Head Coach: Risley Junior H.S.(1957-58).
● Asst. Coach: Pueblo East H.S. (1959)
● Head Coach: Pitts Junior H.S.(1960-68).
Track:
● Asst. Coach: Risley Junior H.S.(1957-58).
● Asst. Coach: Pueblo East H.S. (1959).
● Head Coach: Pitts Junior H.S.(1960-68).
Baseball:
● Coach: Old Timers (1958-60).
Volleyball:
● Head Coach: U.S. Army (1955-57).
Honors:
Pueblo Junior College (1951-52).
● 2nd Team All-Conference Football (1951).
● 1st Team All-Conference Basketball (1952).
● Won Conference in 440 Yard dash (1952).
● Best All Around Athlete Pueblo Jr. College (1952)
● Set School Record in 440 yd dash and mile relay (Records stood for many years).
Sacramento State University (1953-55).
● Led Sacramento State in scoring both years he played basketball.
● Named Outstanding "Player-of-the-Year" in the Greater Pueblo Basketball Tournaments (1959, 1960-61).
US Army Fort Sill Oklahoma (1956-57).
● 4th Army Volleyball Champs (1956).
● 4th Army Volleyball and Basketball Champs (1957).
Achievements:
● Basketball Official: Worked for 15 years (1965-80) doing high school games in the South-Central League and five years (1975-80) in the junior college ranks and the Western Athletic Conference.
● Track: Served as a starter for 30 years (since 1965) in the South-Central League.
● Track: Served as a starter for 13 years (1977-90) at the University of Southern Colorado.
Occupation:
Taught for 37 years in School District #60 - Mathematics & Computer Science and eight years of Mathematics at Pueblo Community College and the University of Southern Colorado.
Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with his wife, Willamae (Culig)..Passed away on February 13, 2012 at age 79.
