Year Inducted: 1977
Nominated By: Eugene Rike
Sports Competed In: Basketball, Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Contributor

Leland S. JohnsonLeland S. Johnson

High School:
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S., graduating in 1940.

Achievements:
High School:  
● Played four years (1936-39) of football, basketball and track.
● All-Conference and All-State quarterback for the Bulldogs in 1939.
● Still holds the record of Pueblo's All-time punter and was known by his nickname "Coffin Corner".
● Led the team to a runner-up finish in the state playoffs.
● Starting guard on the basketball team that won the state championship in 1940 (the last time a Pueblo team won the State Championship in Basketball).
● Earned second team All-State in basketball.
● Played guard on the All-Star basketball team that traveled to Trinidad and played their All-Star Team (after the service) and a few games at guard for Bear Axel.
● Competed in the javelin and dash events as a member of the Bulldogs track team.

College:
Went Colorado University for three years (1940-43).

Achievements:
Military:
● Softball pitcher for the Navy ROTC... He pitched the team to a third place finish in the State Tournament.
● Member of two State Softball Championship Teams between 1935 and 1944.
● Pitched for Michigan State while in the service and led the team to the Cadet Championship.

Related Activities:
Played baseball for the American Legion and the La Junta Army Air Base as a shortstop/relief pitcher.

Contributions:
Sponsor for the Johnson's Warriors basketball team that competed in the city league.

Occupation:
Entrepreneur: Johnson’s Sporting Goods; The Pant Rack; & The Girl Next Door.

Personal:
Lives in Pueblo with his wife, "Bea" Beatrice.


GPSA "J" By The Numbers

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

 1
Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Michael Lawrence James (2018)

Athlete/Contributor
Leland S. 'Lee" Johnson (1977*)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Leland S. 'Lee" Johnson (1977*)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Shiloh Lynette Justice (2014)

Attended Roncalli/P. Central H.S.
Michael Lawrence James (2018)

Bowling
Ida J. Jones (1977*)

Coach
Ezekiel "Zeke" Jimemez (1981*)

Contributor
Sam T. Jones (1974*)

Softball
Michael Lawrence James (2018)

Tennis
Shiloh Lynette Justice (2014)

Volleyball
Shiloh Lynette Justice (2014)

Youth Softball
Ezekiel "Zeke" Jimemez (1981*)

 

2
Track
Nathaniel "Nate" Jones (1985)
Ezekiel "Zeke" Jimemez (1981*)

 3
Baseball
Michael Lawrence James (2018)
Nathaniel "Nate" Jones (1985)
Ezekiel "Zeke" Jimemez (1981*)

Football
Michael Lawrence James (2018)
Nathaniel "Nate" Jones (1985)
Leland S. 'Lee" Johnson (1977*)

Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Nathaniel "Nate" Jones (1985)
Ezekiel "Zeke" Jimemez (1981*)
Ida J. Jones (1977*)

 

4
Athlete
Shiloh Lynette Justice (2014)
Nathaniel "Nate" Jones (1985)
Ezekiel "Zeke" Jimemez (1981*)
Ida J. Jones (1977*)

Basketball
Michael Lawrence James (2018)
Shiloh Lynette Justice (2014)
Nathaniel "Nate" Jones (1985)
Leland S. 'Lee" Johnson (1977*)

Honorees Deceased
Ezekiel "Zeke" Jimemez (1981*)
Leland S. 'Lee" Johnson (1977*)
Ida J. Jones (1977*)
Sam T. Jones (1974*)

 

7
Honorees in "J" 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