Year Inducted: 1986
Nominated By: Joe Garcia (colleague/friend)
Sports Competed In: Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach

Walt Pickard

High School:
Attended La Junta H.S., in La Junta, CO, graduating 1959.

Achievements:
High School:
● Three-sport standout, earning four letters in Track and three each in football and basketball.
● On the gridiron, he was selected to the All-Conference team and Second Team All-State in 1958 while playing his senior season in the All-State game (1959).
● On the basketball court, he earned an All-Conference in 1959.
● Three-time state qualifier on the Tigers track team and finished 4th in State Long Jump and High Hurdles in 1959.

College:
Went Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, CO and was participant on the Rams track team for a season before transferring to Western State College (WSC) in Gunnison, CO and was a member of the Mountaineers track squad in 1963...Graduated fro WSC in 1964...Continued his post-graduate studies at WSC, earning Masters Degree in 1968.

Related Activities:
Track:
● Six-time State Long Jump Champion (1980, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86).
● Five-time Rocky Mountain Triple Jump Champion (1980, 81, 82, 83, 84).
● Mid-American Triple Jump Champion (1981).
● State Javelin Champion (1981).
● State High Hurdle Champion (1984).

Coaching Career:
Crowley County H.S.:
● Hired to be the head coach in track and an assistant coach in football and basketball (1964-66).
Keating Junior H.S.:
● Head Track (1966-67).
Corwin Junior H.S.:
● Head Track and Assistant Basketball(1967-68)
● Head Football (1968-81).
Pueblo East H.S.:
● Assistant Football (1968-81).
● Assistant Basketball (since 1985).
● Head Track (since 1968): Coached 87 State Qualifiers - one State Champion and four State Runner ups.

Contributions:
● Member of the Colorado High School Coaches Association (CHSCA). Served in various capacities: Board of Directors member (1976-82); Secretary (1975); President (1976).
● Officiated at three Olympic Festivals (1978, 1979, 1983).
● Worked the National Explorer Olympics, USAFA Easter Races and National Sports Festival.
● Worked the National Master's Decathlon and Pentathlon and was a candidate to officiate the 1987 Pan American Games.

Occupation:
Teacher and coach at Pueblo East H.S.

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with his wife, Vera... He passed away on November 30, 2005, losing his battle with cancer.


GPSA "T" By The Numbers

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

1
Administrator

Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM)

Athlete/Contributor
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
John Paul Tate (1986*)
La Junta H.S., La Junta, CO

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Dennis Robert Trujillo (2007)

Golf
Olga E. Tezak (1974*)

GPSA Charter Member
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)

GPSA Lifetime Member
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM)

Wrestling
Curt J. "Top Cat" Topping (2013)

Youth Basketball
Ruben Tafoya (1985*)

 

2
Athlete/Coach/Administrator
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Deward Lee "Dewey" Thornton (1998)

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Everett C. "Ev" Thalhamer (2014)
East Aurora H.S., East Aurura, IL
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)
Muskegon H.S., Muskegon, MI

Attended Pueblo Roncalli H.S.
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Carl Michael Taibi (1997*)

Coach
Frederick Martin "Fred" Trujillo (2002)
John Paul Tate (1986*)

Softball
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)

 

 

3
Athlete/Coach
Everett C. "Ev" Thalhamer (2014)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Curt J. "Top Cat" Topping (2013)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)
Jerry K. Traylor (1991*)

Baseball
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)

Contributor
Jerry K. Traylor (1991*)
Ruben Tafoya (1985*)
Homer C. Thompson (1977*)

Tennis
Everett C. "Ev" Thalhamer (2014)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM)

Track
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Dennis Robert Trujillo (2007)
John Paul Tate (1986*)

 

4
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Deward Lee "Dewey" Thornton (1998)
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM)

 
5
Athlete
Curt J. "Top Cat" Topping (2013)
Dennis Robert Trujillo (2007)
Carl Michael Taibi (1997)
Olga E. Tezak (1974*)
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)

Basketball
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
Dan Robert "Kosho" Trujillo (2011)
Deward Lee "Dewey" Thornton (1998)
Calvin "Cal" Tatum (1973+)

Football
Joe "Joe T" Taravella (2021*p)
Anthony “Tony” John Taibi (2020)
William "Bill" Trevithick (2014*)
Carl Michael Taibi (1997*)
Robert S. "Bob" Trevithick (1978 LM)

 

17
Honorees in "T" 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