William Ansel "Bill" Gower II


Year Inducted: 1982
Nominated By: Brian Macartney
Sports Competed In: Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

Ralph Lindsey

Before High School:
● Went Thatcher Elementary (1964-71), played football, basketball and baseball (Old Timers).
● Attended Freed Junior High from 1971-73, participating in football (Bantam & Freed), basketball, Baseball.
● Placed second in the city Punt, Pass and Kick program when he was 10 years old.
● Participated in the AAU swim program for 14 years.

High School:
Attended Pueblo Centennial, graduating in 1977.

Achievements:
High School:
● Earned two varsity letters (1975-76) playing football for three seasons (1973-76) for the Bulldogs.
● Named the McDonald’s football "Player-of-the-Week" and selected to the High School All American in Football Team (1976).
● South-Central League’s leading punter and earned All-City honors (1976).
● Earned two varsity letters playing basketball for three years (1974-77).
● Chosen as the "Most Improved Player" on basketball team as a junior (1976).
● Chosen as "Most Inspirational Player" and Co-Captain of the basketball team as a senior (1977).

Honors:
High School:
● Member of the National Honor Society and graduated as a Red & White Cord honor graduate at Centennial H.S.
● Received the Business Department award -- the first male winner.
● Elected to the Centennial Hall of Fame 1982.

College:
Went to the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo) and graduated 1981.

Achievements:
College:
● Played running back on the Indians football team for four year (1977-80).
● Twice named to the First-Team Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American (1979-80).
● Led the nation in rushing (NCAA Division II) and was the 10th Leading rusher in the NAIA Division I (1979).
● Holds a number of USC records: Most rushes in a game (38); season (226); career (727); rushing yards in a season (1,103) and career (3,562).
● Also recordholder for most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), season: (10) and career (28) as well as most points scored in a game (24) and career (180) and most touchdowns in a game (4), season (11) and career (29).
● Voted "Most Valuable Freshman" (1977) and "Offensive Player-of-the-Year" (1978-79) by his teammates.
● Twice earned RMAC "Player-of the-Week" and was selected as the Ernest E. “Ernie” Smith Memorial Award winner in 1981 (MVP).
● Named scholar athlete in 1981.
● Named to College Sports Info Directors of America (CoSIDA) Second Team at running back.
● Earned Academic All-American in 1980 and All District #7 Team honors (1979-80).
● USC coaches selected him as the team's offensive "Player-of-the-Game" (six times), offensive "Hit-of-the-Game" (twice) and "Renegade-of-the-Game" (kicking game) once.
● Signed by the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League at conclusion of career.
● Suffered an injury to his knee in 1981 camp and was summarily released.

Honors:
College:
Voted as the Outstanding Male Athlete by associate student government at (CSU-Pueblo) in 1980-1981.

Related Activities:
Played recreational Slow Pitch softball and was on the 1981 Player Men's City Championship Team.

Occupation:
Works for Broderick and Gibbons


GPSA "G" By The Numbers

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

1
Athlete/Coach/Official
Bennie M. "Ben" Garcia (2007)

Athlete/Contributor
Thomas Carlyle Gilmore (1984*p)

Athlete/Official
Michael "Mickey" Giarratino (1993*)

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
James S. "Jim" Grieve (1981*)
Hyde Park H.S., Chicago, IL

Attended Pueblo Roncalli H.S.
Paul Gradishar (1989)

Attended Vineland H.S.
John "Johnnie" Greco (1988*)

Coach/Administrator
Robert Luis "Bobby" Gonzales (2004)

Cross Country
Joe E. Garcia (1985)

Gymnastics
Karen L. (Koshak) Griebel (2011)

Marksman
Tom Carlyle Gilmore (1984*p)

Skeet/Trap
Henry "Hank" Gilmore (1977*p)

Tennis
John "Coach" Michael Gallina (2017)

 

2
Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
David P. Galich (2011*)
Richard "Dick" Giarratino (2001)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Joe E. Garcia (1985)
William Ansel "Bill" Gower II (1982)

Contributor
Arthur "Art" H. Gonzales (2017*)
John "Johnnie" Greco (1988*)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Thomas Carlyle Gilmore (1984*p)
Henry "Hank" Gilmore (1977*p)

Softball
Bennie M. "Ben" Garcia (2007)
Michael "Mickey" Giarratino (1993*)
Joe E. Garcia (1985)

Wrestling
Robert Luis "Bobby" Gonzales (2004)
Nick Charles Graham (2004)

 

3
Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Becky Lynn Golob (2010)
Nick Charles Graham (2004)
Paul Gradishar (1989)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
Thomas Carlyle Gilmore (1984*p)
Ft. Collins H.S., Ft. Collins, CO
George A. Grosvenor (1980*)
Boulder Prep H.S., Boulder, CO
Henry "Hank" Gilmore (1977*p)
Adams City H.S., Commerce City, CO

 

4
Athlete
David P. Galich (2011*)
Patrick Geonetta (2001)
William Ansel "Bill" Gower II (1982)
Henry "Hank" Gilmore (1977*p)

Baseball
Anthony "Nino" Giarratino (2010)
Nick Charles Graham (2004)
Paul Gradishar (1989)
George A. Grosvenor (1980*)

Basketball
Gary John Gehlhoff (2011)
Becky Lynn Golob (2010)
Bennie M. "Ben" Garcia (2007)
Bobby M. "Bob" Graham (1990*)

 

5
Attended Pueblo South H.S.
John "Coach" Michael Gallina (2017)
Karen L. (Koshak) Griebel (2011)
Anthony "Nino" Giarratino (2010)
Becky Lynn Golob (2010)
Bobby M. "Bob" Graham (1990*)

Track
Gary John Gehlhoff (2011)
Patrick Geonetta (2001)
Joe E. Garcia (1985)
James S. "Jim" Grieve (1981*)
George A. Grosvenor (1980*)

6
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Gary John Gehlhoff (2011)
Robert Luis "Bobby" Gonzales (2004)
Nick Charles Graham (2004)
Patrick Geonetta (2001)
Michael "Mickey" Giarratino (1993*)
Paul Gradishar (1989)

Honorees Deceased
Arthur "Art" H. Gonzales (2017*)
David P. Galich (2011*)
Michael "Mickey" Giarratino (1993*)
Bobby Max Graham (1990*)
John "Johnnie" Greco (1988*)
Thomas Carlyle Gillmore (1984*p)
Henry "Hank" Gilmore (1977*p)

8
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
John "Coach" Michael Gallina (2017)
Karen L. (Koshak) Griebel (2011)
Anthony "Nino" Giarratino (2010)
Richard "Dick" Giarratino (2001)
Bobby M. "Bob" Graham (1990*)
Joe E. Garcia (1985)
James S. "Jim" Grieve (1981*)
George A. Grosvenor (1980*)

 

9
Football
David P. Galich (2011*)
Gary John Gehlhoff (2011)
Nick Charles Graham (2004)
Patrick Geonetta (2001)
Bobby M. "Bob" Graham (1990*)
Paul Gradishar (1989)
William Ansel "Bill" Gower II (1982)
James S. "Jim" Grieve (1981*)
George A. Grosvenor (1980*)

 

22
Honorees in "G" 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