Year Inducted: 2022
Nominated By: Dave Dudley (colleague)
Sports Competed In: Softball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Contributor
Bob Bonner
Achievements:
Softball:
● Considered one of the best shortstops in the state of Colorado.
● Won six consecutive state softball titles and competed in six consecutive ISC World Tournaments.
● Overall, competed in 12 International Softball Congress (ISC) World Tournaments and two American Softball Association (ASA)
World Tournaments.
● Member of team that set a ISC World Tournament record for most assist in one game (38) against Saginaw, Michigan, in 19 innings
(Lost game 1-0. The record still stands today).
● Starting in 2013, played in the ISC AND USA 50 and over World Tournaments until 2018.
● Member of team that won the USA-ASA 50 and over Worlds Tournament (2018).
● Won numerous all tournament team awards, MVP awards, and all state awards.
Honors:
● All-State, All-Tourney, MVP in 20 different tournaments both in-state and out of state (1972-85).
● MVP of Rocky Mountain Travel League - some of the best teams in the state competed in (1976).
● Selected to play with the ISC all-world team against the world champion All American Bar in St. Paul. Minn. (1977).
● Inducted into the Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame (2010).
● Inducted into the ASA Colorado Softball Hall of Fame (2012).
Achievements:
Military Athletics:
● Played basketball for the San Diego Marines.
● While stationed overseas, played on the Southwest Pacific Marine All-Stars team that went undefeated.
● Also played for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 61.
Professional Affiliations:
● International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) Pueblo group of basketball officials.
● International Association of Approved Football Officials (IAAFO) Pueblo group of football officials.
● Coached high school softball for 14 years in Pueblo and Milford, OH.
● Officiated high school football and basketball in Pueblo for eight years.
● Assistant Softball Coach, Pueblo East High School (presently).
Quotes:
"Bob was an outstanding volunteer coach, so I knew he wasn't doing it for monetary purposes. I watched him teach the game of softball, and he also showed them how to be a class competitor. What stood out most as I watched Bob was his knowledge of the game, and his ability to communicate with the young kids. The grace and expertise he exhibited was not lost on the parents of the players either. I knew firsthand what they would say about him. They respected him when you can do that, you're special."
-- Charlie Manning, former youth sports program director Runyon Sports Complex.
Personal:
Lives in Pueblo (55 years)... Married to Nancy Coulson.
