Year Inducted: 1976
Nominated By: N/A
Sports Competed In: N/A
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach, Contributor
Sollie Raso
High School:
Attended North Denver H.S., graduating in 1940.
Achievements:
High School:
Played on the football (halfback) and track teams (sprints).
College:
Went to the University of Colorado and graduated in 1947.
Achievements:
College:
● Played on the Buffaloes football team at halfback and ran the sprints on the track squad.
● Holds the school record for the 50 yd dash (5.3 seconds).
Honors:
Served in the Army and Air Force as a Nose Gunner on a B-17 during WWII served over Europe.
Coaching Career:
● Head wresting and track coach at Pueblo Central H.S. for 11 years (1946-46).
● Head football coach for eight seasons for the Wildcats from 1948-55.
● Career coaching record was 58-17-3 for a .763 winning percentage.
Below is a breakdown of his record:
Year:
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
Record:
9-2-1
8-1-0
9-1-0
6-1-0
3-5-2
9-2-0
7-2-0
7-3-0
Achievements:
Coaching:
● He led the Wildcats to three state playoff berths, losing each time in the state semifinals:
● Lost to Ft. Collins, 13-20 in State Semi-finals (11/24/1949).
● Lost to Grand Junction, 6-21 in State Semi-finals (11/22/1951).
● Lost to East Denver, 7-19 in State Semi-finals (11/28/1953).
Professional Affiliations:
● Principal at Pueblo Central H.S. for 11 years (1956-67).
● Worked as the Activities Director for School District #60 (Pueblo City Schools) for 13 years (1967-82).
● Retired after 35 years with School District #60 and had more than 500 day accrued sick leave.
● Raso was a member of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Hall of Fame.
● Responsible for bring the First State Track & Field Championships to Pueblo District #60 "Dutch Clark" Stadium in the early 1980's.
● Served as the "First President" of the Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) for two years (1972-73)
● Guided the GPSA association through the early years and served on many committees during his 31 years as an active member.
● Sollie was the FIRST to be voted with "Lifetime Membership" into the GPSA in 2008...According to Hoy Frakes, Raso was "The George Washington of the GPSA”.
Occupations:
● Teacher, coach and principal at Pueblo Central H.S.
● Activities Director School District #60.
● Served two four-year terms as Pueblo County Commissioner beginning in 1984.
Personal:
Lived in Pueblo... Married to his wife, Betty Lou...Passed away on June 9, 2016.
