Willard Stanley Kettering


Year Inducted: 1978
Nominated By: Ethel "Teach" Wentworth
Sports Competed In: N/A
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach, Contributor

Fred F. Smith

High School:
Attended Lisbon H.S., Lisbon, Iowa, graduating in 1909...Played four years of football (1905-09).

College:
Went Cornell College, in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where he graduated in 1914...Furthered his education at the Bob Guppke school of coaching at the University of Illinois (UI), graduating in 1920.

Achievements:
College:
● Member of the football team (1910-13) and baseball squad (1911-14) at West Cornell College.
● Played baseball in the 3-1 League which consisted of teams from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana for five years (1910-15) while attending summer school at UI.

Coaching Career:
● Started his football coaching career at West Union Iowa H.S. (1919-20).
● Moved to Colorado to take the reins of the Pueblo Centennial H.S. football program compiling a seven-year record of 29-21-4 from 1920-26.
● Re-instated a defunct athletic program between Pueblo Central H.S. and Pueblo Centennial H.S. upon his arrival to Pueblo in 1920.
● On Nov. 29, 1923, his Bulldog team beat Pueblo Central H.S. led by Earl "Dutch" Clark during his junior season 5-0.
● Defeated Clark's team again during his senior year, 22-13, in 1924.
● Willard also coached basketball, baseball, track and rifle at Pueblo Centennial H.S.
● Rifle teams won High honors in Regional, State, and National Matches and were the state high school Division Champs in 1930, 1931, 1932.

Year-by-year football records while head coach at Pueblo Centennial H.S.

Year
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926

Record
3-3-0
4-4-0
5-2-1
6-2-1
5-3-0
2-2-0
4-5-0

 
 
 

 

Related Activities:
● Became the Athletic Director at Pueblo Centennial H.S., a position he held for 14 years (1927-41) after coaching.
● Responsible for organizing the First Annual Centennial Track Meet in 1927.
● Retired in 1941 and was called into service a reserve officer during World War II.

Honors:
Honored in 1976 by Pueblo Centennial as a "Master Teacher" at the high school's Bi-Centennial banquet.

Occupation:
Teacher, coach and athletic director for School District #60 (Pueblo Centennial H.S.).

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo until his death on June 16, 1983.


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