NOTE: CSU Pueblo will be honoring the 70th anniversity for the 1956-1957 Pueblo Junior College team that placed third nationally. The Pack men's basketball coach Zach Ruebesam is hosting an alumni weekend on September 11-12 where PJC team will be recognized that featured Jim Ulm, a retired Air Firce Brigadier General, who was a starter on the team for Coach Harry Simmons. Also to be honored is the 1966-1967 Southern Colorado State College men's basketball team that qualified for the NCAA College Division CHampionships.
From Frankfort to the Steel City and Beyond: Jim Ulm Remembers Pueblo Junior College’s Basketball Glory Days
By Tim Simmons
Seventy years have passed since a sharp-shooting freshman from Frankfort, Indiana, packed his bags for the Steel City, setting in motion a basketball journey that spanned legendary coaches, national tournaments, a 25-move military career, and a 58-year marriage.
At nearly 89 years old, retired Air Force Brigadier General Jim Ulm still carries the cadence of a true Indiana Hoosier and the vivid memories of a golden era in junior college basketball. Though health and altitude keep him close to his home in San Antonio nowadays, a recent trip down memory lane brought back the sights, sounds, and local flavors of Pueblo, Colorado.
“Colorado is, you know, where I met my wife Jeannie in Pueblo,” Ulm recalled. “Last night, I went through some of the places we used to go. We used to stop for grinders all the time. We ate at Latronica’s, Velasco, and the places around City Park.”
The Road to Pueblo Junior College
Ulm’s path to Pueblo Junior College (PJC) was forged through the military prep school pipeline. After attending the Manlius School in Syracuse, New York, and missing the mark for the Air Force Academy on his first try, future Air Force coaching legend Bob Spear offered a lifeline.
“Coach Bob Spear said, ‘Hey, I could get you a job at the Broadmoor this next summer, and you can come down and go to Pueblo Junior College,'” Ulm said.
Before he even stepped on campus, Ulm crossed paths with another towering figure in Colorado sports history: Harry H. “The Chief” Simmons.
“I remember your dad,” Ulm told Tim Simmons. “He got hold of me when I was at the Broadmoor… and two days a week, we’d work on my jump shot.”
That extra work paid immediate dividends. During the 1956–1957 season, Ulm became a vital starter for a powerhouse PJC squad that captured the Empire Conference title with a flawless 10-0 record, swept the NJCAA Region IX playoffs, and finished third nationally after a 31-6 campaign.
Playing alongside high-scoring teammate Ken Anderson—who averaged over 22 points a game and earned second-team All-American honors—Ulm chipped in nearly 10 points a contest. Looking back, the veteran shooter joked about a modern rule change: “I wish they had the three-point shot back then… I figured that I’d have a three- to four-point increase in my scoring average.”
Legends on the Sidelines
Life at PJC meant learning under some of the brightest minds in basketball history. Bob Spear was renowned for his tactical shuffle offense, but he had an equally notable assistant on the bench: a young Dean Smith, who would later build a dynasty at the University of North Carolina.
Ulm maintained a lifelong connection with Smith. “I could call his office, and the secretaries would say, ‘I’m sorry, but Mr. Smith is in a meeting.’ And five minutes later, he called me. He maintained contact with everybody.”
The Indians’ success also made waves across the region—and drew some colorful skepticism. At the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, PJC rattled off wins against teams from Oklahoma, Idaho, and Missouri before falling in a hard-fought national semifinal to San Angelo, Texas, despite a season-high 20 points from Ulm.
The deep postseason run even sparked local folklore. “I remember the sportswriter from Mesa Junior College accused us of being paid to play for Harry,” Ulm laughed, recalling headlines generated when his parents drove to Hutchinson in a brand-new Buick won by his dad. “We got $15 a month, you know, and ate at the cafeteria.”
Hoosier Roots and Air Force History
Ulm’s basketball pedigree traces directly back to the heartland of basketball. Before heading west, his Indiana high school team squared off against legendary squads immortalized in lore and film.
“We’d beat Milan my junior year in the holiday tournament. I outscored Bobby Plump 19-12, and then we’d beat Muncie Central; we’re the only school to beat those two that year,” Ulm noted. As a left-hander whose perimeter game flourished against zone defenses, Ulm even drew a classic scouting assessment from legendary North Carolina State coach Everett Case, who once quipped upon hearing about the sharpshooter from Frankfort: “Left hand? Oh, I don’t need another crazy left-hander!”
After his stellar freshman season in Pueblo, Ulm moved on to the Air Force Academy, becoming a cornerstone for the program. He helped lead the Falcons to their first-ever NCAA tournament selection in 1960, pouring in 17 first-half points en route to a 20-point performance against DePaul.
A Life Well Lived
Military service and a career in the Air Force—including a stint in recruiting and rising to the rank of General—meant a transient life. Ulm and Jeannie moved 25 times in 30 years, a nomadic lifestyle navigated with the help of “real troopers” in his family.
Today, settled in San Antonio since 2002, Ulm spends his days with crossword puzzles, bingo, and good neighbors. Though physical distance and health prevent him from traveling back for events like the upcoming CSU Pueblo basketball reunion, the memories of the Steel City remain crystal clear.
From working on jump shots at a junior high school near the Broadmoor with Harry Simmons to visiting Harry and Bodie at their home in Rye, Ulm’s roots in Pueblo run deep.
“I still have friends in Pueblo and would like to travel back to visit, but trips are tougher to handle now,” Ulm reflected. “You calling… brought back a lot of great memories. Special times with special folks in the Steel City.”
