Year Inducted: 1978
Nominated By: Halsey Cook and Bill Olsen
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Basketball. Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach
Jim E. Ranson
High School:
Attended Canon City H.S., Canon City, CO, graduating in 1946.
Achievements:
High School:
Was a four-sport, 11 varsity letter star for the Tigers, playing four years of basketball, three years of baseball and track and one season of football.
College:
Went to Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, CO, and graduated in 1950.
Achievements:
College:
● Participated in four sports for the Rams (football, basketball, baseball and track).
● Played first base and was a member of the only baseball team at Colo. A&M (now CSU) to play in the College World Series in Omaha, NE in 1950.
● Set the Marine Corps record in the high jump (6’3 5/8”).
Coaching Career:
● Spent 30 years as the head boys basketball coach at Pueblo Central H.S.
● Posted a career record of 238-133.
● Led the Wildcats to eight state tournaments, and finished runner-up twice (1964 and 1965).
● Selected to coach the South All-State basketball team in 1964.
● Has coached the boys baseball team at Pueblo Central since 1972 and his team have put together a record of 82-39.
Honors:
● Finished runner-up to Thurman "Fum" McGraw in voting for the “Nye” Award (presented to CSU - most outstanding male athlete) during his senior year in 1950.
● Inducted into the Colorado State University's Hall of Fame on Oct. 17, 2003.
● Member of a VFW Post 61 softball team that won three consecutive national championships from 1948-50.
Related Activities:
● Played in the New York Yankee Organization for five years (1952-56).
● Player/manager in the summers of 1956-57 for a semi-pro baseball team in South Dakota.
● Played on a team from Valentine, NE during the summers of 1958-59.
Occupation:
Teacher and coach for School District #60
Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with his wife, Rochelle. Passed away on May 6, 2018.
Ranson photo courtesy of The Pueblo Chieftain
