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Centennial State Icons: Collegiate Connections Shine in Colorado Sports Hall of Fame’s Latest Class

The Centennial State’s rich athletic fabric is woven with stories of dedication, perseverance, and collegiate excellence. Nowhere is that more evident than in the deep academic and athletic roots shared by the newest legends entering the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

As the calendar turns toward the marquee 62nd annual induction banquet – scheduled for April 15, 2027, at the Hilton Denver City Center (1701 California St.) – the Colorado Collegiate Chronicle proudly shines a spotlight on three exceptional inductees whose paths helped shape higher education athletics across Colorado: Jenny Barringer-Simpson, Steve Bosley, and Jim Saccomano.

A Trio Tied to Higher Education Excellence

The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee and Board of Directors selected a distinguished class of six individuals for enshrinement. Among them, Barringer-Simpson, Bosley, and Saccomano stand out for their profound ties to local colleges and universities:

  • Jenny Barringer-Simpson:

    Jenny Barringer-Simpson: A transcendent name in global and collegiate running, Barringer-Simpson became a three-time Olympic runner and an unstoppable force on the track for the University of Colorado. Her collegiate career in Boulder set a gold standard in middle- and long-distance racing, paving the way for historic international success.

  • Steve Bosley

    Steve Bosley: A pillar of community leadership and athletic support, Bosley’s profound impact is tied closely to the University of Colorado as a former regent. Beyond his governance and dedication to higher education, his vision helped co-found the iconic Bolder Boulder 10K, cementing Colorado’s status as a capital for distance running.

  • Jim Saccomano

    Jim Saccomano: A titan of sports media relations, Saccomano earned academic degrees from MSU Denver and the University of Colorado. He went on to become the much-respected, longtime public relations director for the Denver Broncos, serving as an unmatched chronicler and ambassador for professional football in the Rocky Mountain region.  NOTE: Saccomano teamed with CU and Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian David Plati to produce a weekly podcast featuring 150 memorable sports moments in Centennial State history.

Celebrating a Legendary Class

The trio will be joined at the April banquet by an elite group of sports icons representing the pinnacle of their respective fields:

  • Tom Nalen: The legendary Denver Broncos Ring of Famer and offensive line anchor.

  • Carlos González: The former National League batting champion and dynamic star for the Colorado Rockies.

  • Dave Hill: The celebrated 13-time PGA Tour winner who carved out a legendary career on the links.

Looking Ahead to 2027

In addition to celebrating these six legends, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame will continue its tradition of recognizing current achievers. The Selection Committee will select the 2026 Athletes of the Year in January 2027, honoring top performers across collegiate, high school, and Olympic or professional ranks.

As tickets and preparations line up for the April 15 gala at the Hilton Denver City Center, the Colorado Collegiate Chronicle celebrates how deeply our state’s colleges and universities continue to feed the heart, soul, and history of Colorado sports.

Here is a list of Colorado Sports Hall of Fame inductees and their ties to a Centennial State college or University.  Since the inaugural class in 1965, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame has inducted 304 individuals.

Adams State

  1. Don Cockroft, 2013
  2. Lawrence “Spud” Orr, 1978
  3. Lonnie Porter, 2001
  4. Dr. Joe I. Vigil, 1991

Air Force

  1. Alonzo Babers, 2020
  2. Col. John J. Clune, 1995
  3. Jim Conboy, 1999
  4. Fisher DeBerry, 2008
  5. Ben Martin, 1978
  6. Bob Martin, 1991 (radio broadcaster)

Colorado

  1. John Adams, 2000
  2. Bobby Anderson, 1982
  3. Dick Anderson, 1980
  4. Carol Baily, 2007
  5. Jenny Barringer-Simpson, 2027
  6. Ceal Barry, 2006
  7. Bob Beattie, 1993
  8. Chauncey Billups, 2015
  9. Joan Birkland, 1981
  10. Jeremy Bloom, 2017
  11. Steve Bosley, 2027
  12. Irv Brown, 1997
  13. Carol Callan, 2022
  14. Fred Casotti, 2002
  15. Hatfield Chilson, 198
  16. Walt Clay, 1994
  17. Forrest “Frosty: Cox, 2014
  18. Eddie Crowder, 1990
  19. Gil Cruter, 1997
  20. John Dikeou, 2015
  21. Dale Douglass, 1989
  22. Boyd Dowler, 1972
  23. Bill Fanning, 2002
  24. Walter Franklin, 1981
  25. Daniel Graham, 2019
  26. Darian Hagan, 2014
  27. Burdette Haldorson, 1977
  28. Tom Hancock, 2006
  29. Carroll Hardy, 1979
  30. Jack Harvey, 1999
  31. Jimmy Heuga, 2023
  32. Robert “Bob” Howsam, 1971
  33. Hale Irwin, 1986
  34. Steve Jones, 2013
  35. Hank Kashiwa, 2007
  36. Billy Kidd, 1995
  37. Roger Kinney, 2022
  38. Dean Lahr, 2010
  39. William “Kayo” Lam, 1978
  40. Dave Logan, 2000
  41. Bob Martin, 1991 (radio broadcaster)
  42. Bill Marolt, 2002
  43. Bill McCartney, 1999
  44. Jerry McMorris, 2009
  45. J. Allen “Pat” Patten, 2006
  46. Frank Potts, 1970
  47. Joe Romig, 1973
  48. Rashaan Salaam, 2018
  49. Harry Simmons, 1982
  50. Dan Stavely, 1988
  51. John Stearns, 1997
  52. Kordell Stewart, 2026
  53. Scott Stocker, 2024
  54. Bill Toomey, 1971
  55. Art Unger, 1996
  56. Lisa Van Goor, 2025
  57. Russell “Sox” Walseth, 1998
  58. Dallas Ward, 1975
  59. Scott Wedman, 2007
  60. Wallace Werner, 1967
  61. Byron “Whizzer” White, 1965
  62. James Lee Willard, 1991
  63. Alfred Williams, 2011
  64. Chuck Williams, 2022
  65. John Wooten, 2017
  66. Starr Yelland, 2008 (radio broadcaster)
  67. Larry Zimmer, 2010 ((radio broadcaster)

Colorado College

  1. Art Berglund, 2011
  2. Earl “Dutch” Clark, 1965
  3. Peggy Fleming, 1970
  4. John Gagliardi, 2015
  5. Andy Gambucci, 2014
  6. Guy Gibbs, 2003
  7. William Hinkley, 1986
  8. Bill Hybl, 2006
  9. Hayes Alan Jenkins, 1969
  10. Conburn “Cobe” Jones, 1973
  11. N.C. “Tubb” Morris, 1971
  12. Juan Reed, 1979
  13. George Scott, 1975
  14. Tom Southall, 2019

Colorado Mesa

  1. Walter F. Bergman, 1995

Colorado Mines

  1. Fritz Brennecke, 1980
  2. Earl “Dutch” Clark, 1965
  3. Earvin Hinds, 1976
  4. Marv Kay, 2019
  5. Lloyd Madden, 1998
  6. Russell Volk, 1977
  7. William Hinkley, 1986
  8. George Scott, 1975

Colorado State

  1. Walter F. Bergman, 1995
  2. Bob Blasi, 2010
  3. Tracy Borah, 1998
  4. Charles A. Bresnahan, 1992
  5. Alex Burl, 2018
  6. Rudy Carey, 2024
  7. Jack Christiansen, 1967
  8. Bob Davis, 2001
  9. Dale Dodrill, 1993
  10. Mark Duncan, 1974
  11. Maurice “Stringy” Ervin, 2017
  12. Gary Glick, 1992
  13. Becky Hammon, 2015
  14. Earvin Hinds, 1976
  15. Harry Hughes, 1972
  16. Wendy Koenig, 2026
  17. Sonny Lubick, 2009
  18. Bob Martin, 1991 (radio broadcaster)
  19. Felix “Tippy” Martinez, 2003
  20. Thurman “Fum” McGraw, 1971
  21. Keli McGregor, 2011
  22. Glenn Morris, 1969
  23. Lt. Col. John Mosley, 2009
  24. Greg Myers, 2012
  25. Bill Noxon, 2008
  26. Erin Popovich, 2020
  27. Harry Simmons, 1982
  28. Amy Van Dyken, 2001
  29. Jim Williams, 1990
  30. Larry Zimmer, 2010 (radio broadcaster)

Colorado State Pueblo

  1. Sam Pagano, 2018 (Pueblo Junior College)
  2. Harry Simmons, 1982

Denver

  1. John Adams, 2000
  2. Murray Armstrong, 1974
  3. Ralph Backstrom,2009
  4. Byron Beck, 1981
  5. Jerome Biffle, 1968
  6. Vince Boryla, 1973
  7. Roy Byers, 1987
  8. Don Carlsen, 2001
  9. Joe “Awful” Coffee, 1976
  10. Jim Conboy, 1999
  11. Marvin Crawford, 1979
  12. George Gwozdecky, 2020
  13. Frank Haraway, 1994
  14. Harry Hollines, 2026
  15. Richard Hotton, 1984
  16. Charles “Babe” Lind, 2004
  17. Keith Magnuson, 1991
  18. Lew Mahony, 1986
  19. Everette Marshall, 1967
  20. Bob Martin, 1991 (radio broadcaster)
  21. Bill Masterson, 1985
  22. Sam Pagano, 2018
  23. Dan Stavely, 1988
  24. Fred Tesone, 2004
  25. Richard Yates, 1988

Fort Lewis

  1. Maurice “Stringy” Ervin, 2017

MSU Denver

  1. Jim Saccomano, 2027

Northern Colorado

  1. Bob Blasi, 2010
  2. Fritz Brennecke, 1980
  3. Irv Brown, 1997
  4. L. C. “Pete” Butler, 1974
  5. Frank Carbajal, 2012
  6. Ben Dreith, 2007
  7. Gib Funk, 2003
  8. Lloyd Gaskill, 1981
  9. Joe Glenn, 2018
  10. Pat Haggerty, 2005
  11. John W. Hancock, 1969
  12. Vincent Jackson, 2023
  13. Edward McGlone, 1977
  14. Warren Mitchell, 2015
  15. Tom Petroff, 2002
  16. Greg Riddoch, 2000
  17. Bob Smith, 2019
  18. Greeley Timothy, 1990

Regis

  1. Guy Gibbs, 2003
  2. C.H. “Lou” Kellogg, 1979
  3. Larry Varnell, 1997

Trinidad State

  1. George Scott, 1975
  2. Jim Toupol, 2016

Western Colorado

  1. Jim Baggot, 1980
  2. Tracy Borah, 1998
  3. Bill Noxon, 2008

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