Year Inducted: 1990 (p)
Nominated By: Art Antonio
Sports Competed In: Softball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

Willie Wright

High School:
Attended Pleasant View.

Achievements:
Baseball:
● Earned a professional contract in 1942 and played 2nd Base for the St. Louis Cardinals.
● A baseball tournament held annually every June at Runyon Field in his honor.
Softball:
● Competed in fast-pitch and played 2nd Base for VFW Post 61 in 1948.
● At 5'7" and 180 lbs, was named All American VFW in 1949 and 1951.
● Batted third on a team that lost 1-0 in the ninth inning of the National Tournament Finals in 1949.

Quotes:

"I never saw a man his size hit a ball so far, he helped put Pueblo on the map."... A great player and a great Man! Bob Pobst, shortstop: "Tony was one heck of a ball player, but excelled in everything he did. Tony was the best thing that ever happened to me as far as sports goes. He was a special person, the kind of a person who comes along just once in a while." Jim Ranson, 1st base: "I was one of the younger guys on the team and Tony was the guy I looked up to. He was a good family man and a lot of fun." George Luiz, reserve catcher: "If it hadn't been for the War, Tony would've made it with the Cardinals. Tony was the best hitter I ever saw. He hit it farther and more often than anybody." Sam "Rabbit" Ferraro, Catcher and cleanup hitter: "Pitchers'd see he wasn't very tall and or real big and they'd challenge him. Well, they didn't challenge him too long." Rev. Fred Johnson, played semi-pro with Tony: "He was rolly polly looking, but Tony was as fast as greased lightning and at the same time he was the longest hitter I ever played with."
--Bobby Pechek, center fielder

"My prayer is that some day you grow to emulate Tony Andenucio as a ballplayer and as a man."
--Dave Socier, sports writer for The Pueblo Chieftain.

Honors:
● Drafted by the U.S. Army in 1942, and was discharged 1945.
● Member of the 65th Armored Field Artillery during World War II.
● Served in Tunisia, Normandy France, and Belgium.

Occupation:
Worked at Tony's Cigar Store - 322 North Union, “the Meeting Place for Real Men”. A barber chair in the corner, shoe shine stand, spittoons, bench chairs and 12 pool tables. Then there was the back room where the poker tables were kept. He sold all kinds of tobacco products but never smoked, but chewed a White Owl Cigar.

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo... Passed away on March 3, 1977... Married to Carrie Cordo.


GPSA "A" By The Numbers

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

 1

Attended Pleasant View H.S.
Anthony "Tony" Andenucio (1990*p)

Atended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
James Howard Abell (1976*p)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Joseph Andenucio (1996)

Baseball
Joseph Andenucio (1996)

Boxing
George D. Amaya (1991*)

Coach
Dr. Kay Aguliar (1999)

Recreation Director
John Arellano (1980*)

 

2
Athlete/Coach
Joseph Andenucio (1996)
Louis "Lou" Amaya (1991*)
Awarded Posthumously
Anthony "Tony" Andenucio (1990*p)
James Howard Abell (1976*p)

Contributors
John Arellano (1980*)
James Howard Abell (1976*p)

Softball
Anthony "Tony" Andenucio (1990*p)
Patricia "Pat" Allsup (1985*)

Tennis
Dr. Kay Aguliar (1999)
James Howard Abell (1976*p)

Track
Dr. Eugene"Gene" Albo (2005)
Gordon Allott (1974*)

3
Athlete
George D. Amaya (1991*)
Anthony "Tony" Andenucio (1990*p)
Gordon Allott (1974*)

Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Dino Louis Aragon (2019)
Jeff Arnold (2005*)
Gordon Allott (1974*)

Basketball
Dr. Eugene"Gene" Albo (2005)
George D. Amaya (1991*)
Louis "Lou" Amaya (1978*)

Wrestling
Dino Louis Aragon (2019)
Gary P. Adamson (2009)
Jeff Arnold (2005*)

 

4
Football
Gary P. Adamson (2009)
George D. Amaya (1991*)
Robert J. "Bobby" Armijo (1983)
Louis "Lou" Amaya (1978*)

 

 

 

6
Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Dino Louis Aragon (2019)
Gary P. Adamson (2009)
Dr. Eugene"Gene" Albo (2005)
Jeff Arnold (2005*)
Patricia "Pat" Allsup (1985*)
Robert J. "Bobby" Armijo (1983)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Gary P. Adamson (2009)
Dr. Eugene"Gene" Albo (2005)
George D. Amaya (1991*)
Louis "Lou" Amaya (1991*)
Patricia "Pat" Allsup (1985*)
Robert J. "Bobby" Armijo (1983)

 

8
Honorees Deceased
Jeff Arnold (2005*)
George D. Amaya (1991*)
Anthony "Tony" Andenucio (1990*p)
Patricia "Pat" Allsup (1985*)
John Arellano (1980*)
Louis "Lou" Amaya (1978*)
James Howard Abell (1976*p)
Gordon Allott (1974*)

 

14
Honorees in "A" Section

Remembering Our Fallen GPSA Inductees

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2022 induction ceremony on Nov. 16.

 

Dennis TrujilloDennis
Trujillo

11/28/2022
Class of 2007

Knafelc obitGary L.
Knafelc

12/19/2022
Class of 1973

Don StuttersDr. Donald
Stutters

01/20/2023
Class of 1993