Thomas E. "Tom" Keach


Year Inducted: 1973
Nominated By: Dr. Robert D. Pierce
Sports Competed In: Tennis
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach

Thomas E. KeachThomas E. Keach

High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S., graduating in 1947.

Achievements:
High School:
● Earned a total of six varsity letters, two each playing football, basketball and tennis for the Wildcats.
● Made the All-State tennis team in 1945.

College:
Went to Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he graduated in 1951...Attended the University of Northern Colorado, graduating with a Master's degree in 1959.

Achievements:
College:
● Earned a tennis scholarship: Only played three years of varsity tennis because freshman were bared from participation until the Fall of 1951
● Top singles player his junior and senior years and earned three varsity letters.

Coaching Career:
Coached for 11 years at Keating Junior High and also served as an Assistant Principal for two years.

Achievements:
Tennis:
● Organized first summer tennis program in Pueblo.
● Helped many of Pueblo’s top tennis players at different schools with their game.
● Won numerous tennis tournaments since 1959.
● Inducted into the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame (2002).

Occupations:
● Hired to teach physical education at Fountain Elementary.
● Assistant principal at both Freed Junior High and Pueblo Central H.S.
● Moved to administration as Director of Secondary Education and advanced to Assistant Superintendent of Certified personnel.
● Finished career as Principal of Keating and Corwin and retired in 1984.

Personal:
Lives in Pueblo.


GPSA "K" By The Numbers

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

 1
Athlete
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)

Athlete/Contributor
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended First GPSA Meeting
Loren Kilstofte (2003*>)

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended Pueblo West H.S.
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Coach
Casey King (2023)

Football National Champion (MLFS)
Todd Kelly (2023)

Golf
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Softball
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Sports Information Director
Todd Kelly (2023)

Swimming
David S. Knapp (1988)

Volleyball
Casey King (2023)

Wrestling
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)

 2
Athlete/Coach/Official
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)

Attended H.S. in Colorado
Casey King (2023)
John Mall H.S., Walsenburg, CO
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Rye H.S., Rye, CO

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
David S. Knapp (1988)

Boxing
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Coach/Administrator
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)

Contributor
Rocky Khosla, M.D. (2020)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)

GPSA Charter Member
Thomas E. Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Track
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Wesleyville H.S., Wesleyville, PA
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Winona H.S., Winona, MN
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)
Lisbon H.S., Lisbon, IA

4
Baseball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

5
Athlete/Coach
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
David S. Knapp (1988)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Honorees Deceased
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

6
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

7
Basketball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)

8
Football
Todd Kelly (2023)
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

 

18
Honorees in "K" 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