Jim Bongirno

Year Inducted: 1987
Nominated By: Frank A. Marascola
Sports Competed In: Basketball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach, Contributor

Walt Pickard

High School:
Attended Pueblo Centennial, graduating in 1926.

Achievements:
High School:
Lettered two years each on the Bulldogs basketball and track teams.

College:
Went to Western State College (WSC), graduating in 1930.

Achievements:
College:
● Two year participant on the Mountaineers football (1926-28) and track programs (1927-28).
● Member of the WSC relay team which placed 4th in the Boulder Relays.

Coaching Career:
● Served seven seasons as Basketball Coach Pleasant View H.S. (1935-42).
● Tallied a record of 116 wins and 36 losses.
● Four-time Pikes Peak League Champions.
● Two-times Pikes Peak League Runner-up.
● Reached the semi-finals in State Class B tournament.

Contributions:
Worked four years as Principal at Pleasant View H.S. (1931-34).

Honors:
U.S. Army Infantry (1943-45).

Achievements:
Avid golfer: Shot three holes in ones at City Park Golf Course (latest in 1980).

Occupations:
● Surveyor, AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration) during the summers of 1933-40.
● Administrative Assistant, U.S. Army Engineers (1942-43).
● Timekeeper, payroll clerk, and senior payroll clerk, C.F.&I 1946-70.

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with his wife Elizabeth L. (Gust)... Passed away on July 30, 1995.

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*)

Amateur (Golf)
Jim Brooks (2025)

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

Basketball/Football Official
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)

Professional Athlete (Football)
Howard Ballage (2025)

Radio Announcer
Ross Beatty (1977*)

Tennis
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)

Wrestling
Jim Blanc (1989)

 

2
Athlete/Contributor
Jim Brooks (2025)
Dave Baxter (1981*)

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

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

 

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

Track
Howard Ballage (2025)
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

4
Athlete
Howard Ballage (2025)
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)
Anne D. Beblavi (1995)

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

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

5
Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Robert "Bob" Bonner (2022)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jim Blanc (1989)
Jim Bongirno (1987*)
James A. "Spank" Blasing (1979)

Football
Howard Ballage (2025)
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Tom Brockman (1994)
Jim Blanc (1989)

 

 

 

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)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Howard Ballage (2025)
Jim Brooks (2025)
Richard Michael Busia (2017)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
Michelle R. 'Shelly' Borton (2014)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)

Baseball
Jim Brooks (2025)
Robert "Bob" Busia (2017*p)
James "Christy" Bivin (2010)
Jeff Bonacquista (2007)
Jordan B. Berge (2000)
Joe Bonacquista (1997*)

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

8
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

 

23
Honorees in "B" Section