Walter Leo Hill


Year Inducted: 2012
Nominated By: Gene Albo
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Basketball, Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

High School:
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S (1939-41)... Lettered in Track (javelin and relays) for the Bulldogs (1941)... Member of the "C" Club...Member of the Varsity Cheerleader team...Selected #3 seed on the school’s club sport tennis team (1941) - became regular program several years later...Selected for membership in the National Honor Society.

Walter HillJr. College:
Went to Pueblo Jr. College (PJC) for three seasons (1941-43, and 1945-46) and played guard on basketball team...Returned to PJC after World War II service...Member of varsity basketball team for two seasos...Played a third year of basketball with Harry Simmons as his coach, while at the same time was playing with him on the powerful V.F.W. team of Pueblo...Also played on the baseball team as a catcher for one season (1946).

Jr. College Achievements:
● Helped PJC to a 15-game undefeated season and it's fourth consecutive championship of the Eastern Division of the Intermountain Junior College Conference (IJCC) in 1942-43.
● Selected to the All-Conference basketball team (sophomore year).
● Helped organize baseball as a club sport at P.J.C. in 1946, leading to official recognition at a later date.
● Served as sophomore Class President and Vice President of Student Council.

College:
Lettered two years at guard on the Tigers basketball team at Colorado College (1946-48) and two seasons (1946-48) on baseball team (1st base and catcher)...Served as Director of the entire college's Intramural Sports Program (1947-48)...Responsible for organizing & scheduling all games/meets including appointment of officials, scorers and timers......... 

College Achievements:
● Selected as Captain of the baseball team (1947-48).
● Made the All-Conference baseball team.
● Led the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) in batting & extra base hits with a .400 batting average.
● Named the National Phi Delta Theta All-Sports Honor Roll baseball team.
● Member of the Student Council in 1946-47.
● During 1948 Commencement Ceremony, Hill received the Van Diest Award for the most outstanding senior student athlete.
● Graduated Cum Laude (grade of all “A”s) with a B.A. in Political Science.

Armed Forces:
First Lieutenant in the 9th Air Force during World War II as twin engine pilot in European Theatre of Operations...Helped organize a baseball team for Air Corp Cadets at Santa Ana, CA (1943)....Was a catcher on the Air Force Cadet 9th, Air Force softball team for one season (1945)...Played basketball (guard) for the 440th Troop Carrier, 9th Air Force for one season in Europe (1945) and the Pueblo V.F.W. team (1945-46).

Achievements:
Joined Pueblo's semi-pro baseball team sponsored by Walters Brewery (where he learned to like Walter’s Beer) for one season (1946) as a catcher and outfielder... Hill was the team's leading hitter (1946)...While with the Walter's team, he played in the Denver Post Baseball Tournament in the old Merchants Park stadium in Denver (won two boxes of M&O cigars for hitting home runs)...Played one season in the Pueblo City League (1947) as a catcher...Caught for "All-State" pitcher Lee Johnson in 1947, himself a member of the G.P.S.A, while both played for a team in the city of Pueblo Softball league...Served as a baseball umpire for one season in the...South Central League (1947)...Selected as a member of Pueblo Centennial H.S. Hall of Fame.

Contributions:
Consultant to the Charter Commission of the City of  Pueblo (1949-50)...Assistant to the City Manager of Pueblo (1950-52)...While Hill was a City Manager of Columbia, Missouri (1952-58), he build first city owned 9-hole golf course, developed City Parks & Recreation Department and initiated Little and Senior softball leagues...President of the Missouri City Managers Association (1956-57)...Vice President & Treasurer for all of the financial programs that dealt with the entire University of Colorado system, including all business matters in the University’s interscholastic athletic program (1958-64)...President, Chairman & CEO of First National Bank of Boulder (FNBB) from 1964-1977...Under his leadership, FNBB annually sponsored three players who were members of the Boulder Semi-Pro Baseball team...President of the Colorado College National Alumni Association (1969-70)... Trustee of Colorado College (1969-70)...Served six years on Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame Committee...Spent 18 years (1970-88) as the organizing Officer & Director, who held positions as President, Chairman, & CEO of Affiliated Bank shares of Colorado, a Bank Holding Company with 29 banks throughout Colorado...Presided as President & Chairman of Colorado Bankers Association for three years (1977-79)...Vice Chairman & Trustee of the Colorado School of Banking (1974-87)...Vice President & Member of the Governing Council of the American Bankers Association (1980-81)...Chairman of the Colorado Association of Bank Holding Companies (1986-87)...Honored with the Distinguished Citizen Award from City of Boulder, 2005.

Professional Affiliations and Achievements:
Board of Directors (18 years) Colorado Expenditures Council...Served three years on Governor Dick Lamm's Scientific Committee and one year on the Capitol Complex Committee (State of Colorado)...Vice President & Director (retired in 1987) National Municipal League (NML)...Served three years as a Trustee on the Associated Colleges of Colorado...12-year member of the Board of Advisors for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)... Past Chairman Big Eight University Business Officers Association...Past Director Western Association of College & University Business Officers...Served as a Past Director (four years) on the Forward Metro Denver.

Related Activities:
Served as Director, Boulder Community Hospital (BCH) for nine years...BCH has an outstanding Sports Medicine department providing Athletic Trainers to each of the five high schools in Boulder Valley Community School District on a full-time, year around basis covering all practices and athletic games for each school...Past Chairman & still lifetime Trustee of the University of Colorado Foundation (UCF) for 39 years...Personally established an Annual Endowment to provide a financial award to a Colorado University (CU) students, who in order to qualify, must be members of one or more intercollegiate CU athletic teams... Colorado State University - Pueblo Scholarship Fund...Contributed annually to the Harry Simmons Athletic Scholarship Fund at C.S.U.-Pueblo...Trustee, Boulder Rotary Foundation...Provided significant scholarships to graduating high school seniors of Boulder County to attend any Colorado college or university...Provided free school supplies from crayons to calculators for needy children entering kindergarten to approximately 4,000 students per year.

Personal:
Has one brother, Rolla E. Hill... Passed away Nov. 18, 2013.


GPSA "H" By The Numbers

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

1
Administrator
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Athlete/Administrator
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)

Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Richard 'Dick" Hime (2022 *p)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)

Athlete/Contributor
Paula Henson (2017)

Attended St. Patrick's H.S.
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Steve Henson (2002)

Auto Racing
William B. 'Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000*)

Boxing
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)

Cross Country
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)

Statistician
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Swimming
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)

Track
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)

Wrestling
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

 

2
Athlete/Official
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

Softball
Paula Henson (2017)
Ruth Hulsey (1983*)

 

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
John Muir H.S., Pasadena, CA
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999)
Central Catholic H.S., Pittsburgh, PA
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
College View H.S., Lincoln, NE

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Henry Robert "Bob" Haley (1978)

Coach
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
Henry Robert "Bob" Haley (1978)

Editor/Sportswriter/Owner
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Frank Steven Hoag, Jr. (1975*)

Official
Paula Henson (2017)
James "Newell" Hall (1984*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

Tennis
Paula Henson (2017)
Steve Henson (2002)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)

Track
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)

 

5
Contributor
Paula Henson (2017)
William Joseph "Bill" Hybl (2010)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Frank Steven Hoag, Jr. (1975*)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)

Athlete
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Brian Hochevar (1993)

 

6
Baseball
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)0)

 

7
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
William B. "Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Roger A. Hargraves (2006*p)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Basketball
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)


8
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
William Joseph "Bill" Hybl (2010)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
James "Newell" Hall (1984*)
Mike William Housh (1983)
Ruth Louise Hulsey (1983*)

11
Athlete/Coach
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Steve Henson (2002)
William B. "Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Mike William Housh (1983)
Ruth Louise Hulsey (1983*)

Football
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
Mike William Housh (1983)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

 

18
Honorees Deceased
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger A. Hargraves (2006*p)
William B. 'Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000*)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
J. Newell Hall (1984*)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
Ruth Hulsey (1983*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)
Frank S. Hoag, Jr. (1975*)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)

 

32
Honorees in "H" 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