Walter E. "Walt" Clay


Year Inducted: 2005
Nominated By: Leland Johnson, Hoy Frakes
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Basketball, Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Official

Walt Clay

High School:
Went to Longmont H.S, in Colorado, graduating in 1941...Lettered all four years playing fullback on the Trojans football (1939-41)... Also played basketball and was a member of the track team (Hurdles, P.Vault, Discus, Shot) from 1940-42...Was named all-state in football (1940) and basketball (1941-42).

College:
Attended the University of Colorado for a year...Lettered and played one year as fullback on the Buffaloes football team (1942)...Named All Big 7 Fullback (as a Freshman) in 1942..."CU coaches said that Walt was better than Byron “Whizzer” White at the same stage of development"...Was a member of the CU baseball team, playing centerfield in 1943...Played basketball as a freshman and lettered one year.

College Achievements:
Team played in National AAU Tournament held in Denver...Beat the University of Wyoming (The NCAA Champions) in the semifinal game...Got beat in the championship game by Phillips 66... Named to the National AAU basketball team (second team).

Military:
● Joined the U.S. Marine Corps in the Fall of 1943...Played football in the service as a fullback for the El Toro Marines (1944-45)...Team got beat in the ALL SERVICE finals by the Navy Team.

Pro Football:
Played four years of pro football and was nickname "Hatchet" the way he would run through tacklers...Played fullback for the Chicago Rockets (1946-47) and Los Angeles Dons (1947-49)...His highest salary as a pro was $7,500 per year (which was very good in those days)...Has the honor of receiving a pension from the NFL that is higher per month than the amount he made when he was playing (Probably nobody in Pueblo County, that qualifies for GPSA, has this honor).

Coaching:
● Spent his entire coaching career at Centennial High School.
● Worked four years (1951-54) as an assistant football then was promoted to the Bulldogs head football coach during the 1955 season and worked four years until 1958.
● Posted a career record of 18-19-3.
● Was the head baseball and track coach for a year (1952 and 1956, respectively) and the Bulldogs basketball coach for five seasons (1952-56).

Professional Affiliations:
● Spent 25+ years officiating at the junior high, high school, college and recreational leagues.
● His 25+ years were spent officiating baseball, basketball, football and wrestling (all from 1960-85) and he spent 20+ years working softball game (1960-80).

Honors:
● The Officials Association Awarded Walt an Honorary Life Time Membership in the following four sports: A plaque for football, baseball and basketball officiating and a clock for wrestling officiating.
● Enshrined into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in Feb. 1994.

Occupation:
Professional football player and Hired by District #60 as a Teacher/Coach.

Personal:
Lives in Pueblo with his wife, Rosemary Harsh...Nickname "Ki" (for Kaiser) Clay.


GPSA "C" By The Numbers

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

1
Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Alan E. Colglazier (2011)

Atended Pueblo South H.S.
Louie D. Carleo (2003)

Attended Roncalli H.S./P. Central H.S.
Michael J. "Mike" Cunico (2000)

Cross Country/Track
Steven J. Cathcart (2004)

Boxing
Joseph "Joe Awful" Coffee (1974*)

Lifetime Member of the GPSA
Samuel J. "Sam" Corsentino (1980 LM)

Football National Champion (MLFS)
Dale Cresswell (2023)

Softball
Alan E. Colglazier (2011)

Sports Director TV 5/30
Douglas L. "Lee Douglas" Cooley (2005*)

Tennis
Herb Casebeer (1977*)

U.S. District Judge
Hatfield "Judge" Chilson (1976*)

 

2
Athlete
Jerry C. Cunico (2004)
Michael J. "Mike" Cunico (2000)

Athlete/Contributor
Steven J. Cathcart (2004)
Herb Casebeer (1977*)

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Dale Cresswell (2023)
Artesia H.S., Artesa, N.M.
Chester W. "Bill" Corder (1987)
Kansas City H.S., Kansas City, MO

 

 

3
Attended Pueblo County H.S.
Carol L. Cosby (2017)
Steven J. Cathcart (2004)
Samuel Joseph "Sam" Corsentino (1980 LM)

Contributor
Dale Cresswell (2023)
Douglas L. "Lee Douglas" Cooley (2005*)
Vernon T. Cochran (1975*)

Entrepreneur
Steven J. Cathcart (2004)
Herb Casebeer (1977*)
Ken Coatney (1976*>)

Track
Gregory Norman Critchett (2017)
Jerry C. Cunico (2004)
Michael Gene "Mike" Chorak (1997)

4
Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Dale Cresswell (2023)
Samuel Joseph "Sam" Corsentino (1980 LM)
Ken Coatney (1976*>)
Joseph "Joe Awful" Coffee (1974*)

Baseball
Walter E. "Walt" Clay (2005*)
Michael J. "Mike" Cunico (2000)
Darrell Bruce Colvin (1994)
Samuel Joseph "Sam" Corsentino (1980 LM)

Wrestling
Jerry C. Cunico (2004)
Louie D. Carleo (2003)
Michael Gene "Mike" Chorak (1997)
Chester W. "Bill" Corder (1987)

 

5
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Jerry C. Cunico (2004)
Michael Gene "Mike" Chorak (1997)
Herb Casebeer (1977*)
Joseph "Joe Awful" Coffee (1974*)
Earl Harry 'Dutch' Clark (1973+*)

 

 

6
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Gregory Norman Critchett (2017)
Douglas L. "Lee Douglas" Cooley (2005*)
Darrell Bruce Colvin (1994)
Norman G. Colglazier (1987)
Hatfield "Judge" Chilson (1976*)
Ken Coatney (1976*>)

7
Basketball
Dale Cresswell (2023)
Carol L. Cosby (2017)
Walter E. "Walt" Clay (2005*)
Norman G. Colglazier (1987)
Chester W. "Bill" Corder (1987)
Samuel Joseph "Sam" Corsentino (1980 LM)
Hatfield "Judge" Chilson (1976*)

9
Football

Dale Cresswell (2023)
Gregory Norman Critchett (2017)
Walter E. "Walt" Clay (2005*)
Jerry C. Cunico (2004)
Louie D. Carleo (2003)
Michael Gene "Mike" Chorak (1997)
Hatfield "Judge" Chilson (1976*)
Ken Coatney (1976*>)
Earl Harry 'Dutch' Clark (1973+*)

Honorees Deceased
Sam O. Clay, Jr. (2007*)
Walter E. "Walt" Clay (2005*)
Douglas L. "Lee Douglas" Cooley (2005*)
Herb Casebeer (1977*)
Ken Coatney (1976*>)
Hatfield (Judge) Chilson (1976*)
Vernon T. Cochran (1975*)
Joseph "Joe Awful" Coffee (1974*)
Earl Harry 'Dutch' Clark (1973+*)

10
Athlete/Coach
Dale Cresswell (2023)
Carol L. Cosby (2017)
Gregory Norman Critchett (2017)
Alan E. Colglazier (2011)
Louie D. Carleo (2003)
Michael Gene "Mike" Chorak (1997)
Darrell Bruce Colvin (1994)
Norman G. Colglazier (1987)
Chester W. "Bill" Corder (1987)
Earl Harry 'Dutch' Clark (1973+*)

24
Honorees in "C" 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