Year Inducted: 1974 (p)
Nominated By: Sidney Rosen (colleague)
Sports Competed In: Basketball, Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach
Ed Lesar
High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S., graduating in 1939.
Achievements:
High School:
Played end on the football team and was part of the Wildcats 1938 state championship team.
College:
Went to Denver University (DU) for three years, enlisted in the Marines in 1943 and returned to DU and graduated in 1947.
Achievements:
College:
Played three years of football (end) and baseball, lettering twice on the Pioneers football team and three time on the baseball squad.
Coaching Career:
● Started coaching career at Pueblo Central H.S. where he spent nine years (1947-55) as an assistant football.
● Took over as head coach of the Wildcats football team the following season (1956) and spent the next 10 years prowling the sidelines until 1965.
● Returned for one more season in 1969.
● Posted a career record of 77-32-1 in 11 years.
● Head coach of the 'Cats baseball squad and an assistant on the wrestling team.
Achievements:
Coaching:
● Guided the 'Cats to two State Football Championships (1961, 1965) and one state runner-up finish in 1958.
● Led the Wildcats baseball program to a record of 147-65.
● Won two state baseball championships in 1950 and 1956.
● Also won five South-Central League championships and coached five members who are enshrined in the GPSA Hall of Fame: Joe Mohorcich & Frank Deleon (pitching), Chuck DePietro (3rd base), Nathaniel Jones (2nd base), Walt Pickard (catcher).
Year:
1956
1957
1958
1959
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1969
Record:
7-2-1
7-2-1
10-1-1
6-4-0
12-0-0
5-4-1
3-4-3
1-6-2
11-3-0
10-2-0
GPSA Inductees Coached:
Nick Graham
Rich Vivoda
Nick Graham, Rich Vivoda, Roger Hargraves
Fred Rodriguez
John Salimeno, Dennis Hagaman, Jerry Cunico
Results:
Lost to Denver South (6-7) State runner-ups.
Beat the Lakewood (34-0) State Champions.
Beat the Ft. Collins (14-0) State Champions
Lost to Poudre (6-21) in the State semi-finals
Occupations:
Teacher and coach at Pueblo Central H.S.
Personal:
Lived in Pueblo... Passed away after losing his battle with cancer on January 14, 1971 at age 49.
