Joseph "George" Kaplan


Year Inducted: 2014
Nominated By: Dr. James Bergles
Sports Competed In: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach

High School:
Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S., graduating in 1966.

George KaplanAchievements:
Basketball: 
● Four-year letterman as a guard (1963-66).
● Kaplan was a two year starter and shares or holds record for career rebounds, rebounds in a season and rebounds per game.
● Named to the All-City team his senior year (1966).

Football: 
● Four-year letterman as a quarterback (1963-66).
● Starting QB in three state championship games.
● Named to the All-State team in 1965 by The Denver Post-Rocky Mountain News.
● Played in the All-State football game his senior season (1966).

 Baseball: 
● Started at catcher for three years (1964-66).
● selected to play in Senior All-Star Game vs. Colorado Springs.

Track:
● Spent one season (freshman year) running in the hurdles event.

College:
Went to the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado (UNC) where he graduated in 1971...Kaplan received a scholarship to the University of Colorado (CU)...He had to compete with Bobby Anderson for QB... George ended up transferring to (UNC)...Earned a football scholarship to play for the Bears... Red-shirted his sophomore year (1968) as he transferred from CU...Kaplan was the starting quarterback for UNC for two seasons (1969-70), compiling a record of 18-2.

Coaching:
Spent nine years (1977-85) as the head football coach at Poudre High School (PHS) in Fort Collins, Colorado... He amassed a record of 59-33-2, winning three conference championships and making four state playoff appearances...Kaplan also was the head varsity baseball coach for three seasons (1974-76) for the Impalas.

Contributions:
Kaplan served for eight years (1994-2002) as the Athletic Director at PHS and was a member of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) soccer committee for two years (2000-02).

Professional Affiliations and Achievements:
Member of the Northern Colorado Coaches Association (NCCA), the Colorado Coaches Association (CCA), and the National Football Coaches Association (NFCA).

Occupation:
Teacher, coach and administrator at PHS.

Personal:
Lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife, Ginny.


GPSA "K" By The Numbers

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

 1
Athlete
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)

Athlete/Contributor
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended First GPSA Meeting
Loren Kilstofte (2003*>)

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended Pueblo West H.S.
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Coach
Casey King (2023)

Football National Champion (MLFS)
Todd Kelly (2023)

Golf
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Softball
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Sports Information Director
Todd Kelly (2023)

Swimming
David S. Knapp (1988)

Volleyball
Casey King (2023)

Wrestling
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)

 2
Athlete/Coach/Official
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)

Attended H.S. in Colorado
Casey King (2023)
John Mall H.S., Walsenburg, CO
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Rye H.S., Rye, CO

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
David S. Knapp (1988)

Boxing
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Coach/Administrator
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)

Contributor
Rocky Khosla, M.D. (2020)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)

GPSA Charter Member
Thomas E. Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Track
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Wesleyville H.S., Wesleyville, PA
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Winona H.S., Winona, MN
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)
Lisbon H.S., Lisbon, IA

4
Baseball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

5
Athlete/Coach
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
David S. Knapp (1988)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Honorees Deceased
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

6
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

7
Basketball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)

8
Football
Todd Kelly (2023)
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

 

18
Honorees in "K" Section

 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN GPSA INDUCTEES

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2023 induction ceremony on Nov. 15.

 

 

Daniel RosalesDaniel
Rosales

12/13/2023
Class of 2002

Everett C. ThalhamerEverett C.
Thalhamer

12/23/2023
Class of 2014

Bob GrahamBobby Max
Graham

02/26/2024
Class of 1990