Congrats to all these GREAT Buffs for being named to the CU Hall of Fame!
Direct link to article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/6/26/alumni-c-club-cu-hall-of-fame-to-elect-dozen-in-2024-class
(Note - due to its length and the fact I wanted to quote the whole article, I will need to break the article quote over 3 posts.)
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BOULDER — The 19th class to be inducted into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame this November will feature 10 Golden Buffaloes who excelled in their day, representing six different sports, including a popular coach and administrator.
Also recognized will be two additions to each of the Hall's Legacy Wing and the revived Athletic Hall of Honor.
All have their special place in the school's history. The inductees, including three who will be honored posthumously, cover a period starting in the late 1930s through the early 2010s, covering seven different decades between all. The 10 overall hail from football (three athletes and the coach/administrator), one who starred in both golf and football, two from cross country and track, two from skiing and one from volleyball. Three of the 10 are women.
The Hall of Honor inductees represent basketball and gymnastics, with the Legacy Wing selections two unique individuals who have and were involved intimately a long time with the program for a combined 11 decades between them.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be the 19th inducted into the Hall since it was conceived in 1998, and the 12 will join 154 individuals (including five Legacy Wing inductees along with the 1959 ski team as a unit) who have been enshrined to date (22 previously have been honored posthumously). Those to be inducted this November into the Athletic Hall of Fame are (complete bios follow in this release):
Athletic director Rick George once again personally notified the living members of every class of their impending induction, as well as the next of kin for those who have passed, including the veteran committee's selection. This year's choice was Harold "Monk" Saunders, a two-time conference golf champion and football All-American in the 1930's.
Snapshots of all inductees follow; complete biographies of all 14 Buffalo legends to be celebrated this fall, as well as the all-time CU Athletic Hall of Fame members as listed by induction class are in the attached PDF document. CU's flagship radio station, KOA, teased the announcement of the class Tuesday afternoon when CU Hall of Famer Dave Logan interviewed his former teammate (and roommate) Don Hasselbeck.
Ronnie Bradford
Coming out of Adams City High School where he would earn the nickname, "The Commerce City Kid," Ronnie Bradford, he lettered four times at cornerback under Bill McCartney. One of a handful of players who played football in the state of Colorado in high school, CU and the Broncos, the Buffs enjoyed tremendous success his four seasons in Boulder, amassing a 39-7-3 record and three Big Eight titles – and one even bigger one. He was a first-team all-conference performer as a senior in 1992.
The late Whitney Houston's 1989 hit song, "One Moment In Time" certainly applies to Bradford's career at CU – as he made one of the most significant plays in program history. With 7:32 remaining in the first half of the '91 Orange Bowl, a game CU needed to win for the national championship, Notre Dame scored to take a 6-3 lead. Bradford came around the right side and literally flew in the air to the block the point after try. In what was a tremendous defensive battle, CU won 10-9 and were consensus national champions. But if Bradford doesn't block that kick – remember – it was 1990 and there was no overtime in college. The game would have ended in a 10-10 tie, and CU's record would have fallen to 10-1-2 and likely no title.
"I am extremely humbled to have the honor of being inducted into CU's 2024 class in its Athletic Hall of Fame," Bradford said. "Growing up and seeing the 'Blue and Gold' (uniform colors at the time) on the TV screen and then in high school, getting a chance to watch the Buffaloes in person was so motivating for me to become one of those players."
"I never thought I would have the fortune of being enshrined in the CU Hall of Fame next to some great athletes that put in hours of training and performance to represent this amazing university to best of our abilities," he continued. "It was never about the fame or glory that concerned us, but the pride and tradition of this university that sustained our drive. My four years at CU will always be some of the most memorable, first arriving at CU and seeing how the university and community were grieving but came together to honor a fallen teammate (Sal Aunese). Then playing in two national championship games and winning one, to winning multiple conference championships, to being a part of a brotherhood, who sweated and trained to compete week in and week out, to be called "Colorado Buffaloes."
Bradford is now the special teams assistant for the Miami Dolphins, where former Buff tight end and head coach Jon Embree is the assistant head coach..
John Gregorio
John Gregorio was the first CU track athlete that earned All-American honors in all three disciplines – cross country, indoor track and outdoor track – in the same athletic year when he did so in 1972-73. He was 20th in cross country (29:15); anchored the distance medley runner-up finish in 9:48.7, five seconds behind an indoor world-record time by Kansas State; and was third in the outdoor 3-mile; in the latter, he ran 13:10.6 and was five seconds behind the legendary Steve Prefontaine who set an NCAA record.
In two seasons at CU after transferring from junior college, he recorded over 40 podium (top three finishes) in distance events. Among his many impressive wins were titles in the prestigious Drake, Kansas and Texas Relays. At the time of his graduation, he had set CU records in the mile (4:02.7), 3-mile (13:10.6), and the distance and 4x100 relays. He now works in ticket operations for the Colorado Rockies.
"Disbelief, thrilled, humbled and then proud, was my reaction from getting a call from Rick George telling me I had been chosen for CU's Hall of Fame," Gregorio said. "Thoughts of my teammates came to mind, Cliff Branch, George Daniels, Mike Hill and many more - we all motivated each other to excel and we were a family. The early 70s were troubled times in America but the CU cross country and track teams were special. Our focus as a group was performing at our utmost ability for the University – we were Buffs. Our challenge to put CU track at the top then and for decades to come, was fulfilled. My visions of Coach (Don) Meyers and (Jerry) Quiller, who spurred us on are to never be forgotten. We were the men from the mountains and to this day, CU track and cross county continue to excel.
"Running for CU in the 70s was fun," he added. "We were hippies and we put CU running on the map. Boulder is now a renowned running community and I believe it was the 1970's cross country and track teams that ignited the movement."
Don Hasselbeck
Don Hasselbeck lettered four years, the first time as a freshman under the late Eddie Crowder and then three seasons for the late Bill Mallory (1974-76). One of the best tight ends in CU history, he earned first-team All-American honors as a senior from The Sporting News, when he helped lead the Buffaloes to the Big Eight Conference title and a subsequent berth in the Orange Bowl. He was tabbed a second-team All-American his junior year by United Press International, and was a Playboy Preseason All-American prior to his senior year. A two-time, unanimous first-team All-Big Eight performer as a junior and senior, with the Buffs compiling a 17-7 record over those two seasons, with his 50 career receptions the second-most by a tight end at the time in school history, with his 612 receiving yards third.
An honorable mention member of CU's All-Century team, selected in 1989, and got it done in the classroom, earning second-team Academic All-American honors. He went on to enjoy a nine-year NFL career, and retired, is a full-time artist.
"Wow!" Hasselbeck exclaimed. "I'm stunned and truly honored to be mentioned along with so many other amazing athletes that have had the opportunity to attend the University of Colorado. My four years in Boulder were some of the best years of my life. Les Steckel (the young receiver coach) at that time recruited me out of Cincinnati even after I had made a verbal commitment to attend the University of Michigan. Our teams, our coaches and teammates from all walks of life made all the difference in those four years.
"CU, Boulder, and the people there changed the trajectory of my life," he said. "Jim and Betty Matthews (his Buff parents at that time) made me feel right at home – even though I was the only Ohio player on the team. I truly feel blessed and honored to even be considered to be mentioned as a Hall of Fame Buffalo. And I'll always be a Buffalo for life!"
Ben Kelly
When it came to returning punts and kickoffs, saying that Ben Kelly was the second-coming of the legendary Cliff Branch would not be an understatement. He returned seven kicks in his career for touchdowns (four punt, three kickoffs including bowls), one shy of Branch's school record eight. The sixth CU player at the time to earn first-team all-conference honors three times (freshman through junior years; he declared for the NFL Draft before his senior year). But he also starred at cornerback, and even had a few carries at tailback showing his versatility.
He finished his career at CU first all--time in kickoff return yards (1,798, a number that remains on top of the list), third in pass deflections (34) and sixth in interceptions (11); he still holds the record for the longest fumble return for a touchdown, galloping 96 yards against Kansas in 1998.
"I'm sure this will really hit me more the closer to November we get and people find out about it," Kelly said. "To be inducted into the CU Hal of Fame is an amazing and humbling honor. I spent some of the best years of my life in Boulder and had the opportunity to develop relationships that have stayed in my life ever since. I came to Boulder from Cleveland, a wide-eyed, naive, and full of whatever we call it that teenagers have. I only wish my father and grandfather were still here to see this, they would be so proud, but I can share this with my son now.
"I'm forever grateful for my time at CU and happy that my efforts over two decades ago has been recognized by the committee," he added. "I've always loved CU, the foundation and initial transition to adulthood. I miss my CU family and can't wait to see everyone in November. Go Buffs!"
Harold "Monk" Saunders
Talk about playing in an icon's shadow, when Harold "Monk" Saunders was at CU in the late 1930s, Byron White was in the spotlight, after in high school teammate Niles Kinnick of Iowa Hawkeye fame was the top dog; many at the time felt he was the second-best athlete at each school at the time. In fact, in a 1975 column, Harry Farrar, the late well-respected columnist at the Denver Post, wrote that Saunders was "one of the finest football ends and golfers in the Rockies."
He got the nickname "Monk" when he missed a block in practice and White got hammered – coach Bunny Oakes screamed out, "Who's the monkey who missed that block?" It stuck. He earned eight letters across three sports, four in golf, three in football and one in basketball. He was a two-time Mountain States Conference golf champion (and runner-up another time), and earned Williamson "Alternate" All-America football honors as a senior. After CU, he was a PT Boat captain in World War II, reached the quarterfinals of the 1951 U.S. Public Links and was a college football referee for 34 years. His son Norm played for Sox Walseth and the CU men's basketball team in the 1960s; grandson Reed is the PA announcer at Coors Field for the Colorado Rockies. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 82.
His son Steve relayed that "he hated missing CU games while officiating other Big Eight games. At one time, he bought an old school bus and converted it to a gold and silver coach that he took with others to CU games later on. He also loved watching his son and my brother Norm play for Sox (Walseth) in the 60's on old Balch Fieldhouse, and truly enjoyed the reunion of the (1937) Cotton Bowl team when they were honored at halftime of a game.
"When I got the call from Rick, I'll be honest, it made me cry," he said. "I also had a dream about him refereeing a Big Eight game – I was a mess. I called Norm's wife and his kids, they're thrilled as well and said that both Monk and Norm would be rising from their graves."
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Direct link to article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/6/26/alumni-c-club-cu-hall-of-fame-to-elect-dozen-in-2024-class
(Note - due to its length and the fact I wanted to quote the whole article, I will need to break the article quote over 3 posts.)
"
CU Hall of Fame To Elect Dozen In 2024 Class
By: David Plati, SID-Emeritus/Athletic HistorianBOULDER — The 19th class to be inducted into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame this November will feature 10 Golden Buffaloes who excelled in their day, representing six different sports, including a popular coach and administrator.
Also recognized will be two additions to each of the Hall's Legacy Wing and the revived Athletic Hall of Honor.
All have their special place in the school's history. The inductees, including three who will be honored posthumously, cover a period starting in the late 1930s through the early 2010s, covering seven different decades between all. The 10 overall hail from football (three athletes and the coach/administrator), one who starred in both golf and football, two from cross country and track, two from skiing and one from volleyball. Three of the 10 are women.
The Hall of Honor inductees represent basketball and gymnastics, with the Legacy Wing selections two unique individuals who have and were involved intimately a long time with the program for a combined 11 decades between them.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be the 19th inducted into the Hall since it was conceived in 1998, and the 12 will join 154 individuals (including five Legacy Wing inductees along with the 1959 ski team as a unit) who have been enshrined to date (22 previously have been honored posthumously). Those to be inducted this November into the Athletic Hall of Fame are (complete bios follow in this release):
- Ronnie Bradford, Football (1989-92)
- John Gregorio, Cross Country & Track (1971-73)
- Don Hasselbeck, Football (1973-76)
- Ben Kelly, Football (1997-99)
- Harold "Monk" Saunders, Golf/Football (1937-40)
- John Skajem, Skiing (1986-87)
- Anette Skjolden, Skiing (1991-93)
- Dan Stavely, Football Coach/Administrator (1958; 1963-83)
- Rachel Wacholder Scott, Volleyball (1993-96)
- Shayne Wille Culpepper, Cross Country & Track (1995-97)
Athletic director Rick George once again personally notified the living members of every class of their impending induction, as well as the next of kin for those who have passed, including the veteran committee's selection. This year's choice was Harold "Monk" Saunders, a two-time conference golf champion and football All-American in the 1930's.
Snapshots of all inductees follow; complete biographies of all 14 Buffalo legends to be celebrated this fall, as well as the all-time CU Athletic Hall of Fame members as listed by induction class are in the attached PDF document. CU's flagship radio station, KOA, teased the announcement of the class Tuesday afternoon when CU Hall of Famer Dave Logan interviewed his former teammate (and roommate) Don Hasselbeck.
Ronnie Bradford
Coming out of Adams City High School where he would earn the nickname, "The Commerce City Kid," Ronnie Bradford, he lettered four times at cornerback under Bill McCartney. One of a handful of players who played football in the state of Colorado in high school, CU and the Broncos, the Buffs enjoyed tremendous success his four seasons in Boulder, amassing a 39-7-3 record and three Big Eight titles – and one even bigger one. He was a first-team all-conference performer as a senior in 1992.
The late Whitney Houston's 1989 hit song, "One Moment In Time" certainly applies to Bradford's career at CU – as he made one of the most significant plays in program history. With 7:32 remaining in the first half of the '91 Orange Bowl, a game CU needed to win for the national championship, Notre Dame scored to take a 6-3 lead. Bradford came around the right side and literally flew in the air to the block the point after try. In what was a tremendous defensive battle, CU won 10-9 and were consensus national champions. But if Bradford doesn't block that kick – remember – it was 1990 and there was no overtime in college. The game would have ended in a 10-10 tie, and CU's record would have fallen to 10-1-2 and likely no title.
"I am extremely humbled to have the honor of being inducted into CU's 2024 class in its Athletic Hall of Fame," Bradford said. "Growing up and seeing the 'Blue and Gold' (uniform colors at the time) on the TV screen and then in high school, getting a chance to watch the Buffaloes in person was so motivating for me to become one of those players."
"I never thought I would have the fortune of being enshrined in the CU Hall of Fame next to some great athletes that put in hours of training and performance to represent this amazing university to best of our abilities," he continued. "It was never about the fame or glory that concerned us, but the pride and tradition of this university that sustained our drive. My four years at CU will always be some of the most memorable, first arriving at CU and seeing how the university and community were grieving but came together to honor a fallen teammate (Sal Aunese). Then playing in two national championship games and winning one, to winning multiple conference championships, to being a part of a brotherhood, who sweated and trained to compete week in and week out, to be called "Colorado Buffaloes."
Bradford is now the special teams assistant for the Miami Dolphins, where former Buff tight end and head coach Jon Embree is the assistant head coach..
John Gregorio
John Gregorio was the first CU track athlete that earned All-American honors in all three disciplines – cross country, indoor track and outdoor track – in the same athletic year when he did so in 1972-73. He was 20th in cross country (29:15); anchored the distance medley runner-up finish in 9:48.7, five seconds behind an indoor world-record time by Kansas State; and was third in the outdoor 3-mile; in the latter, he ran 13:10.6 and was five seconds behind the legendary Steve Prefontaine who set an NCAA record.
In two seasons at CU after transferring from junior college, he recorded over 40 podium (top three finishes) in distance events. Among his many impressive wins were titles in the prestigious Drake, Kansas and Texas Relays. At the time of his graduation, he had set CU records in the mile (4:02.7), 3-mile (13:10.6), and the distance and 4x100 relays. He now works in ticket operations for the Colorado Rockies.
"Disbelief, thrilled, humbled and then proud, was my reaction from getting a call from Rick George telling me I had been chosen for CU's Hall of Fame," Gregorio said. "Thoughts of my teammates came to mind, Cliff Branch, George Daniels, Mike Hill and many more - we all motivated each other to excel and we were a family. The early 70s were troubled times in America but the CU cross country and track teams were special. Our focus as a group was performing at our utmost ability for the University – we were Buffs. Our challenge to put CU track at the top then and for decades to come, was fulfilled. My visions of Coach (Don) Meyers and (Jerry) Quiller, who spurred us on are to never be forgotten. We were the men from the mountains and to this day, CU track and cross county continue to excel.
"Running for CU in the 70s was fun," he added. "We were hippies and we put CU running on the map. Boulder is now a renowned running community and I believe it was the 1970's cross country and track teams that ignited the movement."
Don Hasselbeck
Don Hasselbeck lettered four years, the first time as a freshman under the late Eddie Crowder and then three seasons for the late Bill Mallory (1974-76). One of the best tight ends in CU history, he earned first-team All-American honors as a senior from The Sporting News, when he helped lead the Buffaloes to the Big Eight Conference title and a subsequent berth in the Orange Bowl. He was tabbed a second-team All-American his junior year by United Press International, and was a Playboy Preseason All-American prior to his senior year. A two-time, unanimous first-team All-Big Eight performer as a junior and senior, with the Buffs compiling a 17-7 record over those two seasons, with his 50 career receptions the second-most by a tight end at the time in school history, with his 612 receiving yards third.
An honorable mention member of CU's All-Century team, selected in 1989, and got it done in the classroom, earning second-team Academic All-American honors. He went on to enjoy a nine-year NFL career, and retired, is a full-time artist.
"Wow!" Hasselbeck exclaimed. "I'm stunned and truly honored to be mentioned along with so many other amazing athletes that have had the opportunity to attend the University of Colorado. My four years in Boulder were some of the best years of my life. Les Steckel (the young receiver coach) at that time recruited me out of Cincinnati even after I had made a verbal commitment to attend the University of Michigan. Our teams, our coaches and teammates from all walks of life made all the difference in those four years.
"CU, Boulder, and the people there changed the trajectory of my life," he said. "Jim and Betty Matthews (his Buff parents at that time) made me feel right at home – even though I was the only Ohio player on the team. I truly feel blessed and honored to even be considered to be mentioned as a Hall of Fame Buffalo. And I'll always be a Buffalo for life!"
Ben Kelly
When it came to returning punts and kickoffs, saying that Ben Kelly was the second-coming of the legendary Cliff Branch would not be an understatement. He returned seven kicks in his career for touchdowns (four punt, three kickoffs including bowls), one shy of Branch's school record eight. The sixth CU player at the time to earn first-team all-conference honors three times (freshman through junior years; he declared for the NFL Draft before his senior year). But he also starred at cornerback, and even had a few carries at tailback showing his versatility.
He finished his career at CU first all--time in kickoff return yards (1,798, a number that remains on top of the list), third in pass deflections (34) and sixth in interceptions (11); he still holds the record for the longest fumble return for a touchdown, galloping 96 yards against Kansas in 1998.
"I'm sure this will really hit me more the closer to November we get and people find out about it," Kelly said. "To be inducted into the CU Hal of Fame is an amazing and humbling honor. I spent some of the best years of my life in Boulder and had the opportunity to develop relationships that have stayed in my life ever since. I came to Boulder from Cleveland, a wide-eyed, naive, and full of whatever we call it that teenagers have. I only wish my father and grandfather were still here to see this, they would be so proud, but I can share this with my son now.
"I'm forever grateful for my time at CU and happy that my efforts over two decades ago has been recognized by the committee," he added. "I've always loved CU, the foundation and initial transition to adulthood. I miss my CU family and can't wait to see everyone in November. Go Buffs!"
Harold "Monk" Saunders
Talk about playing in an icon's shadow, when Harold "Monk" Saunders was at CU in the late 1930s, Byron White was in the spotlight, after in high school teammate Niles Kinnick of Iowa Hawkeye fame was the top dog; many at the time felt he was the second-best athlete at each school at the time. In fact, in a 1975 column, Harry Farrar, the late well-respected columnist at the Denver Post, wrote that Saunders was "one of the finest football ends and golfers in the Rockies."
He got the nickname "Monk" when he missed a block in practice and White got hammered – coach Bunny Oakes screamed out, "Who's the monkey who missed that block?" It stuck. He earned eight letters across three sports, four in golf, three in football and one in basketball. He was a two-time Mountain States Conference golf champion (and runner-up another time), and earned Williamson "Alternate" All-America football honors as a senior. After CU, he was a PT Boat captain in World War II, reached the quarterfinals of the 1951 U.S. Public Links and was a college football referee for 34 years. His son Norm played for Sox Walseth and the CU men's basketball team in the 1960s; grandson Reed is the PA announcer at Coors Field for the Colorado Rockies. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 82.
His son Steve relayed that "he hated missing CU games while officiating other Big Eight games. At one time, he bought an old school bus and converted it to a gold and silver coach that he took with others to CU games later on. He also loved watching his son and my brother Norm play for Sox (Walseth) in the 60's on old Balch Fieldhouse, and truly enjoyed the reunion of the (1937) Cotton Bowl team when they were honored at halftime of a game.
"When I got the call from Rick, I'll be honest, it made me cry," he said. "I also had a dream about him refereeing a Big Eight game – I was a mess. I called Norm's wife and his kids, they're thrilled as well and said that both Monk and Norm would be rising from their graves."
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