CHSAA Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2012
24th Class Features Chauncey Billups, Rhonda Blanford-Green, Jim Dorsey, Pam Fagerlund, Duane Lewis, Frank Palmeri, Joe Strain
Aurora, Colo. – The latest class of the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, the 24th in the history of the organization, features a broad range of inductees including three former student participants, a long-time official, a pair of highly successful coaches and a veteran public address announcer for many state championship events.
Joining the CHSAA Hall of Fame from the participant ranks are Chauncey Billups (George Washington), Rhonda Blanford-Green (Aurora Central) and Duane Lewis (Burlington). They are joined by volleyball coach Pam Fagerlund (Flagler) and former Manual, Denver South and George Washington coach Joe Strain, along with Frank Palmeri, whose 50-year public address career in Jefferson County also included five decades as the voice of the CHSAA’s State Wrestling Championships. Blanford-Green also served as an administrator for the CHSAA for 14 years before becoming the executive director of the Nebraska Schools Activities Association last July, while Lewis went on to a successful teaching and coaching career at several Colorado schools.
"Earning a place in the CHSAA Hall of Fame is an honor so few receive. Yet each class represents the thousands upon thousands of participants, coaches, administrators, officials and significant contributors that give so much to the state’s high school athletics and activities. The Class of 2012 reveals the breadth and depth that Colorado high school athletics and activities represent in our member schools. Each of the inductees has left a snapshot of his/her impact on this organization in a positive way,” CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico said in making the announcement.
“I know it seems odd that it has taken so long for some of these people to be inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame, especially Chauncey Billups. But, induction is predicated on several things, including being nominated and the ability to be in attendance at the induction ceremony. For many deserving people, they have yet to be nominated. In the case of Chauncey, we wanted him to be in attendance because he is the prototypical inductee – success at all levels, leadership qualities, representing his sport at the highest level. All seven of these people display these qualities. We are very proud of these seven individuals. They are high school athletics and activities,” CHSAA Hall of Fame administrator Bert Borgmann said.
The Class of 2012 will be inducted during a banquet ceremony on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at the Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast (I‑225 and Parker). Individual tickets may be purchased for $45 each by contacting the CHSAA. The festivities get underway at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited.
The selection of the three student participants to the CHSAA Hall of Fame puts the total number of participants in the hall at 53. There are now 54 coaches, 27 administrators, 14 officials and six significant service contributors enshrined in the CHSAA Hall of Fame that began in 1989. There are also two teams in the hall. The Hall of Fame now features 156 inductees.
Biographies of the newest additions to the hall include:
Chauncey Billups (George Washington) – Certainly one of the greatest, if not the greatest basketball player, to play in Colorado, Billups led his George Washington team to a pair of 6A state championships as a sophomore and junior. A shoulder injury as a senior limited his time in the playoffs and GWHS was eliminated early that year. He remains active in the Colorado prep scene through camps with Regis University’s Lonnie Porter, which feature a significant amount of time on leadership and character principles. A star at the University of Colorado, he was chosen third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. A 5 time NBA All-Star and a 3 time All-NBA selection, Billups has played for the Celtics, the Toronto Raptors, the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Clippers, and Team USA. He won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and was given the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" for making late-game shots with Detroit.
Rhonda Blanford-Green (Aurora Central) – Perhaps the finest female track athlete ever from Colorado, Blanford-Green was a three-sport athlete (volleyball, cheer, and track and field) at Aurora Central and still holds school records in the 100m, 200m 100h, and long jump. She was an undefeated “Big 8” champion in the indoor and outdoor hurdles and an 11-time All-American for the University of Nebraska. Following her Nebraska career, she was a member and team captain for several U.S. teams that competed internationally. She served 14 years as a CHSAA administrator, including two as associate commissioner and is now the Nebraska Schools Activities Association executive director. She is currently the chair of the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) Citizenship and Equity Committee and NFHS Spirit Committee. She has also served on the Track and Field Committee. She is recognized nationally for her commitment to education in the areas of spirit, equity, and student participation. Blanford-Green was the first minority administrator hired to the CHSAA staff and she is the first African-American female Executive Director in the nation.
Jim Dorsey (Sheridan) – Dorsey was a teacher, coach and administrator at Sheridan High School from 1961 until his retirement in 2002. But, the CHSAA has benefited most from his work in officiating and the assignment of sports officials since 1974. His ability as an official stands out when one reads his resume. He was a high school and collegiate baseball umpire from 1961 until 1981. He officiated basketball at the prep and college levels from 1970 through 1999. His valuable insight into the professional development of basketball officials is underscored by his commitment to the profession. He has been reappointed as the Secretary of the IAABO Board #4 in Colorado every year since 1998. That position requires exceptional organizational, personal and officiating skills. He is a charter member of the CHSAA basketball officials playoff assigning committee and is a noted clinician. Dorsey received the CHSAA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004, has been a Special Olympics volunteer and officiated for Special Olympics since 1976. In spring 2011, Dorsey became one of just four Coloradans granted Life Membership in the IAABO.
Pam Fagerlund (Flagler) – Colorado’s winningest girls’ volleyball coach with a mark of 564-194 (.744) in 28 years at Flagler High School. Her teams have are 69-21 (.681) in state tournament play and have a 4-6 mark in state championship matches. Seven of her players have won post-season Player of the Year honors and 40 have gone on to earn All-State honors. Her teams had a streak of 25 of 28 appearances in the state tournament. She has served as chair of the CHSAA Volleyball Committee twice, has coached in nine All-State games for the CHSCA and CCGS and, in 2005, won The Denver Post Dave Sanders Award. Fagerlund is a 9-time Coach of the Year Award recipient, including 1998 when State Farm named her “Top Coach of Women’s Athletics.” The Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports presented her with the Helen D. McCall Award for Promotion of Girls’ Sports in 2003 and She was the National Federation’s Colorado Coach of the Year in 2001.
Duane Lewis (Burlington) – Although currently recognized, perhaps, more for his coaching and shooting education innovations, Duane Lewis was one of the state’s finest athletes while a student at Burlington High School from 1956-60. He held numerous spots in the CHSAA top basketball records for scoring. He earned 14 letters at BHS – four each in football, basketball and baseball, two in track – and averaged 29 points per game as a senior including four games with more than 40 points. He was ranked seventh in the state in scoring when he graduated. A career 64% shooter, Lewis’ exploits came prior to the advent of the three-point shot. Lewis went on to become one of the state’s top basketball and golf coaches, coaching both sports at Alamosa and Alameda. He has been awarded numerous post-season honors both as an athlete and as a coach, including induction into the Jefferson County Hall of Fame (2010) and the CHSCA Hall of Fame (1999).
Frank Palmeri (Jefferson County) – From 1948 until 2005, a period of 57 years, Frank Palmeri as the “voice” of high school sports in Colorado. He started in 1948 in the Denver Parochial League and then, in 1959, he started with Jefferson County athletics, serving as public address announcer in every sport for the league. The vast majority of the state may not recognize Palmeri by face, but his distinctive, professional announcer’s voice is familiar to three generations of Colorado prep athletes. He was the “voice” of the state wrestling for 51 years, and nearly that same number for the state basketball tournament and state track meet. A native Coloradan, Palmeri grew up in north Denver. He was the 1992 CHSAA Distinguished Service Award recipient, was inducted into the Jefferson County Hall of Fame in 1988 and was named the National Announcer of the Year in 2005 by the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers Association.
Joe Strain (Denver Public Schools) – One of the city’s legendary coaches, Strain coached at Manual, Denver South and George Washington. His basketball teams won two titles at Denver South (1969, 1970) and a pair at George Washington (1982, 1986). His teams were 297-153. Strain coached at South from 1963-1977, his teams compiling a 133-123 record over those 14 years. He moved over to GWHS and coached the Patriots from 1977 until his retirement in 1986, compiling a 165—30 mark. His GW teams won six City Championships and his teams went 22-5 in seven state playoff appearances. He served as a father figure and role model for many of his players. One player noted that A coach affects eternity; he can never tell when his influence stops.” According to his former players, Strain’s influence is still alive and well today. During his coaching career at Manual, Strain was an assistant coach in basketball, baseball and football.
In addition to the induction of the Hall of Fame class, the Association will honor one person with its Distinguished Service Award and a Colorado organization or corporation with its Colorado Tradition Award. The Colorado Tradition Award is special recognition that goes to an organization that has distinguished itself through its support and loyalty to CHSAA, its mission and students. The CHSAA Distinguished Service Award is presented to persons whose efforts are in support of, rather than the focus of, an activity.
The seven new members join past inductees: Betsy Allen (2005); Bobby Anderson (2011); Justin Armour (2011); Chris Babbs (2005); Jim Baggot (1991); Ray C. Ball (1990); Alice Barron (1989); Bob Bledsoe (2010); Manual Boody (1990); Michelle Bostrom (2000); Donald Breese (1999); Maceo Brodnax, Jr. (1999); Irv Brown (2003); Gregg Browning (2007); Larry Brunson (2007); Christine Bullard (2011); Francis “Gene” Bunnelle (1996); Alex Burl, Jr. (1999); Farley Burl (2003); Carol Callan (2006); Jeffrey Carter (1998); Jack Cella (1996); Dan Cholas (2007); Bob Chavez (2002); Darryl Clack (1993); Earl "Dutch" Clark (1989); Sandra Cole (2009); Rob Conklin (2000); Gilbert Cruter (1989); Jim Danley (2007); Joyce Davisson (1997); George Demetriou (2011); Mickey Dunn (1997); Cody Dusenberry (2006); Richard Evans (2006); Melody Fairchild (2009); Tom Falgien (2000); Bill Fanning (1994); David Filsinger (2005); Tom Fincken (2005); Kathy Francis Nunnery (2007); Terri Fritzler-McNair (2002); Gib Funk (1991); Ken Furman (1997); Victor Garcia (2010); Gib Gardner (2009); Lloyd Gaskill (1990); Don Gatewood (2008); Guy Gibbs (2002); Shauna Gilmore (1990); Rick “Goose” Gossage (2006); Tanya Haave (1993); Tom Hancock (2008); Phyllis Jojola Hardt (1999); April Heinrichs (1994); Matt Hemingway (2008); Dick Hewson (1995); Tracy Hill (1993); Steve Hill (2000); Bill Hinkley (1989); Brenda House (2001), Allen Hower (1998); Laurice “Lo” Hunter (1996); Barry Helton (1996); Hale Irwin (2006); Mike Jackson (2006); Marc Johnson (2011); Charlotte Jorgenson (2010); Dick Katte (1999); Bill Kehmeier (1992); Mike Kronkright (1993); Dave Logan (1992); Virginia Lorbeer (2000); Ray Lutz (2004); Kurby Lyle (1994); Don McCall (2008); Bill McGraw (1989); Jayne Gibson McHugh (1991); Mary Gore (1992); Bette Lunn (1998); Lloyd McMillan (1995); Pat Manson (2001), Kristin (Jensen) McKay (2011); Don Miller (2009); Warren Mitchell (2001), Ruby Miller (1990); Glenn Morris (1997); Daryl Monasmith (2007); Frank Montera (2007); Leslie Moore (2010); Herman Motz (2005); John Mraule (2003); Bill Musgrave (1996); Bill Noxon (2010); Bob Ottewill (2006); Larry Overton (2001), Pat Panek (1991); Lou Piel (1995); Shelia Quillen (1998); Don Quinn (2002); Carl Ramunno (1998); Sollie Raso (1992); Earl Reum (1990); John Rivas (1994); Fred Rodriguez (2009); Jim Poole (2008); Joan Powell (2008); Lonnie Rogers (2001), Jeff Rohlwing (2004), Joe Romig (1993); Al Schalge (1993); Mel Schwartz (1993); Lowell Sharp (2000); Ron Shavlik (2002); Frank Sferra (1991); Eulalia Skinner (2002); Bob Smith (1997); Cari (Jensen) Smith (2011); Shirley Snyder (1995); Ken Soper (2008); Tom Southall (1999); John Stearns (2010); Sally Stewart (2004); Anita Stites-Rowland (2004); Scott Stocker (2004); Dale Stryker (1994); Richard Tate (2010); Dennis Teeters (2004); Fred Tesone (2009); Bob Thompson (1994); Carol Ulrich (1997); Brenda Ververs-Liggett (2003); Larry Vibber (2002); Don Weber (1995); Michael P. Weiker (1996); Bill Weimar (1992); Byron White (1998); Sharon Wilch (1997); Don Wilson (1995); Robert Wilson (2003); Scott Wilson (2005); Jimmy Womack (2003); Dick Yates (2006); Steve Zabel (1995); 1924 Windsor High School Boys’ Basketball Team and 1957 Mead High School Boys’ Basketball Team.
Members of the CHSAA Hall of Fame Selection Committee include: Dick Katte (chair, Denver Christian); Larry Bull (CCSD); Judy Hildner (Pueblo Chieftain); Robert Jefferson (Adams City); Rob Larson (Fort Collins); Virginia Lorbeer (CHSAA HOF); Becky Mudd (CHSCA);Jodi Reinhard (Standley Lake); and Denny Squibb (Fruita Monument); CHSAA staff liaison is Assistant Commissioner Bert Borgmann.