Year Inducted: 1994
Nominated By: Brian Macartney 
Sports Competed In: Football
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach

George Luiz

High School:
Attended Thomas Jefferson, graduating in 1964.

College:
Went to Colorado State University, graduated in 1968.

Coaching Career:
● Served 12 years (1969-80) as an assistant football coach for the Bulldogs.
● Took over the head coaching duties in 1981 and amassed a 95-51 record.

Achievements:
Coaching:
● Won two state football championships (1987 and 1992).
● Earned seven state play-off berths (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993).
● Four-times the Bulldogs tied for the conference championship (1983, 1985, 1986 and 1992).
● Finished tied for second in conference three times (1985, 1986, 1988) and finished runner-up in conference play twice (1984, 1991).
● State semifinalists (1986).
● State runner-up (1991).
● Placed 3rd in conference (1989).

Honors:
● Three-time local media Pueblo Football "Coach-of-the-Year" (1985, 1986, 1987).
● South Central League "Coach-of-the-Year" and selected to coach the South in All-State Football game (1986).
● Named Colorado 3A Football "Coach-of-the-Year" by The Rocky Mountain News and the South Central League "Coach-of-the-Year" (1987).
● Recipient of the 1981 "Ed Lesar" Award - Most prestigious award given annually to a Colorado H.S. Football Coach.
● Speaker at the National Toyota Coach of the Football Clinic in Denver (1988 and 1993).
● Speaker at three local Service Clubs.
● Named the 1982 Colorado 5A Football "Coach-of-the-Year" by The Denver Post and The Rocky Mountain News (1982).
● Toyota Colorado "Coach-of-the-Year" (3A & 5A Football) following the 1988 and 1993 seasons, respectively.
● 16 of his players participated in All-State Games.
● Six went on to play Division I football.
● 27 other players gone to other colleges to continue to play football.

Occupation:
Spent 13 years at Centennial - hired December 1968, after graduating in fall...Worked as a Drivers Education Teacher.

Personal:
Lives in Pueblo... Has three daughters, Wendy, Marni, Aubre.


GPSA "B" By The Numbers

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

 1

All Sports
Ernest E. "Ernie" Ballotti (1981*)

Athlete/Contributor
Dave Baxter (1981*)

Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Jordan B. Berge (2000)

Basketball/Football Offical
Dave Baxter (1981*)

Boxing
Jim Blanc (1989)

City Parks Supervisor of Recreation
Leonard Butler (1998)

Coach
Tom Brockman (1994)

Coach/Contributor
Raymond T. Baker (2009)

Contributor
Ross Beatty (1977*)

Cross Country
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

Girls Sports
Jessie F. Banks (1996)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)

Radio Announcer
Ross Beatty (1977*)

Tennis
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)

Wrestling
Jim Blanc (1989)

 

2
Basketball
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)

Softball
Robert "Bob" Bonner (2022)
Raymond T. Baker (2009)

Track
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

Athlete
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)

3
Basketball
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
William F. "Bill" Brown (1994)

 

4
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Raymond T. Baker (2009)
Leonard Butler (1998)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)

Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Robert "Bob" Bonner (2022)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jim Blanc (1989)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)
Jim Blanc (1989)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
Dave Baxter (1981*)
Lamar H.S., Lamar, CO
Tom Brockman (1994)
Thomas Jefferson H.S., Denver, CO
Joe Bonacquista (1997)
Trinidad H.S., Trinidad, CO
William F. "Bill" Brown (1994)
Wray H.S., Wray, CO

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Jesse F. Banks (1996)
Lindsay H.S., Lindsey, OK
Ernest E. "Ernie" Ballotti (1981*)
Mooseheart H.S, Mooseheart, IL
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)
Manhattan H.S., Manhattan, KS
Ross Beatty (1977*)
Chicago H.S, Chicago, IL

Football
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Tom Brockman (1994)
Jim Blanc (1989)

 

 

 

5
Honorees Deceased
Ernie Ballotti (1981*)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)
Dave Baxter (1981*)
Ross Beatty (1977*)

Baseball
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)
Jordan B. Berge (2000)
Joe Bonacquista (1997)

 

6
Athlete/Coach
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Jordan B. Berge (2000)
Leonard Butler (1998)
Joe Bonacquista (1997)
William F. "Bill" Brown (1994)

 

21
Honorees in "B" 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