2003-2004 Air Force Men’s Basketball Team

The 2003-2004 Air Force Men’s Basketball Team re-wrote the history books with their record setting season. The team won the program’s only regular season conference championship while compiling a 22-7 overall record, setting the record for most wins in program history. The Falcons won an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they played North Carolina in Denver, the programs first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 42 years. The Falcon’s program defining season included their first conference championship, finishing 12-2 in the Mountain West Conference, and won the Mountain West regular season title by two full games.

During their standout season the Falcon’s won 13 straight games and 16 of 17 during the season. The team defeated Cal Berkley on its home floor in the University of California Tournament in December of 2003. The Falcons also made it in the top 25 national rankings during their season.

Leading the Falcon’s was current head coach Joe Scott. After their outstanding season, Scott was named Mountain West Coach of the Year. The Falcon’s posted one of the best starting 5’s in the country, as all five starters of the team earned all-conference honors, including Nick Welch first team All Mountain West, A.J. Kuhle second team All Mountain West, Tim Keller third team All Mountain West, Joe Gerlach and Antoine Hood All Mountain West honorable mentions. Falcon Nick Welch was also named Mountain West Conference Player of the Year following their 2003-2004 season.

Ann Finke – Trailblazer and Local Legendary Local Golf Instructor

Ann Finke spent 37 years of her career at the Country Club of Colorado and dedicated 18 of those years as the Director of Instruction where she helped countless local golfers improve their golf games, teaching more than 39,000 lessons, approximately 40 percent of those to junior golfers. In her last year, Finke served as assistant golf professional still teaching but performing other duties as well. Her most notable students include Tom Glissmeyer, who qualified for the U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur as a 16-year-old in 2003, and Lanny Whiteside, the 1997 Colorado Women’s Open winner and 1998 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier.

Finke was a trailblazer in the world of golf serving as the first female member of the Nebraska and Colorado Sections of the Professional Golfers’ Association and the first female PGA Club Professional in Colorado. Finke was named the 2010 PGA National Junior Golf Leader and became the ninth female nationally to be a quarter century PGA member.

Ann’s passion and lifelong dedication to the sport was evident as she served as president of Pikes Peak Junior Golf from 1991 through 2002 and was a driving force in The First Tee of Pikes Peak, the Colorado Section’s Golf in Schools Program, and the PGA’s Professional Golf Management School at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. The Colorado Golf Hall of Fame named Finke the 2011 Golf Person of the Year and inducted her in 2016. In 2015 the PGA Colorado Section named a PGA REACH scholarship in her honor continuing to pay tribute to her lifelong commitment to the community and sport of golf.

1991-1992 Doherty High School Girls’ Basketball Team

The 1991-1992 Doherty High School girls’ basketball team was the first girls’ basketball team in Colorado Springs to win a Colorado State Championship title. The Spartans, coached by Carl Krug, played with passion and determination energized by a 39-game winning streak and entered the state playoff as the #5 seed for the State 6A title. The Spartans defeated Boulder High School, the reigning state champions for the three consecutive years prior and earned Colorado Springs its first state title in girls’ basketball.

The 1991-92 team was led by Erin Scholz who continued her playing career as a forward for the University of Colorado at Boulder. During her time at CU, Erin became only the third CU women’s player to hit the 1,000 mark in points and rebounds. Scholz was inducted into the Colorado Springs Sport Hall of Fame in 2008.

Carl Krug coached the Spartans from 1989-2000, during which time, the girls’ basketball team won state championships is 1992 and 1995 and were runners up in 1993 earning overall record during Krug’s stay was 223-32.

Gary Barnett, Air Academy High School & CU Football Coach

Gary Barnett’s impact on prep and collegiate football is unparalleled. Early in his career, Barnett coached football at Air Academy High School for 11 years, nine as the head coach. Under his leadership, the Air Academy football program won six conference titles and advanced to the state semifinals in both 1980 and 1981 with transformational wide-open offenses.

Barnett advanced to be a top college coach serving as the head coach at Fort Lewis College (1982–1983), Northwestern University (1992–1998), and the University of Colorado at Boulder (1999–2005), compiling a career college football record of 92–94–2. At Northwestern, Barnett coached a 35-45 record, including 9-3 season in 1996, with a 7-1 Big Ten mark and earning a bid to the Citrus Bowl. Barnett was awarded Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2004. In 2015, he was inducted into the Northwestern Hall of Fame, following that Barnett was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2019 he was inducted into the University of Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

Barnett returned to Colorado to lead the CU Boulder coaching staff from 1999-2005 with a 49-38 record, including 10-3 in 2001 while beating Texas and Nebraska to win the Big 12 conference title. Under his leadership at CU Boulder, nine Buffaloes earned first-team All-America honors, while on 22 occasions his players earned first-team All-Big 12 accolades.

 Throughout his career, Barnett led teams to six bowl appearances, including the 2001 Fiesta Bowl with CU-Boulder and the incredible Northwestern 1995 Rose Bowl run that included an undefeated Big Ten season, beating Notre Dame and being ranked as high as #3 in the conference. His accolades include being named the 1995 AFCA Coach of the Year, 1995 Big Ten Coach of the Year, 1995 FWAA Coach of Year, 1995 Home Depot Coach of Year, 1995 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of Year, 1995 Walter Camp Coach of Year, and the 1996 Big Ten Coach of Year. 

Judy Barnett, Manitou High School Volleyball Coach

Judy Barnett is a coaching legend among the halls of Manitou High School having established both the girls’ basketball and volleyball programs during her 20+ year tenure. Barnett taught business education and served as the Manitou Springs High School girls’ volleyball head coach from 1976-1996. Under her leadership, the Mustangs were consistently a force to be reckoned with at the annual Colorado State Volleyball tournament, winning the championship in 1992 and placing second four times. Additionally, Barnett served as president of the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports from 1990-1996 and coordinated the All-State Games for softball, volleyball, and basketball.

Barnett went on to impact youth sports throughout the state of Colorado and served as the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) assistant commissioner overseeing volleyball, swimming, speech, boys’ and girls’ basketball, softball and soccer over the years. She developed the first CHSAA Sportsmanship Summit in 1998, was named to Top 20 Most Powerful Women in Colorado Sports by the Denver Post in 1997 and inducted in the CHSCAA Hall of Fame in 1999. Judy was named the Colorado High School Coaches Association Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1995, National High School Volleyball Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association in 1996, and the Dave Sanders Colorado Coach Award in 2006.

Ted Castaneda, CU Cross-Country Standout & Longest Tenured Colorado College Coach

Ted Castaneda, a Palmer High School graduate, made a name for himself first through his own remarkable athletic career then later through more than 39 years dedicated to coaching. After going to Palmer High School, Castaneda ran for the University of Colorado at Boulder in both track and cross country, earning five All-American honors, four in track and one in cross-country, and was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. Castaneda ran both the 5,000 and 10,000 at the 1976 Olympic Trials and competed again in the marathon event at the 1980 Olympic Trials.

Throughout his career, he was a regular in many local area road races, including the inaugural Garden of the Gods 10-mile run in 1978. Castaneda earned remarkable personal record times including a 1.52.4 800, 3:58.5 mile, an 8:28 two-mile, 28:30 in the 10 kilometers and a 2-hour, 15-minute marathon and broke the American record in the 3-mile run with a time of 13:10.6 in the final heat of the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Castaneda’s noteworthy impact is evidenced by his 39-year coaching career, earning him the title of the longest tenured coach at Colorado College at his retirement. He became head coach of the men’s cross country team in 1981, assumed head coaching duties for women’s cross country in 1993 and track and field in 1994 and retired from coaching in December 2020. Throughout his career, Castaneda and assistant coaches helped coach 23 All-Americans, the men’s cross country team captured seven Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championships, while his women’s teams won four. Ted was one of the seven original inductees into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. 

Vincent Jackson, Widefield High School, UNC & Professional Football Player

Widefield High School graduate, Vincent Jackson, led a storied sports career, first playing college football at the University of Northern Colorado and then as a 12-season wide receiver in the NFL. Jackson was straight-A student and multi-sport athlete playing basketball and football through high school. Jackson excelled at football and, in his senior year, earned a Rocky Mountain News All-State Honorable Mention, First Team Gazette All-Area Pick, and First Team All-Conference Pick. Later, he became UNC’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, kick return yards, punt return yards, and receiving touchdowns earning him All-American honors as a punt returner.

Jackson was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft in 2005 as the #61 overall pick by the San Diego Chargers. During his NFL career, Jackson caught 540 passes for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns. Vincent was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, twice with the San Diego Chargers in 2009 and 2011, and in 2012 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson was also one of only three players in Tampa Bay franchise history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Vincent was nominated 3 times for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and in 2015 he received the USAA Salute to Service Award.

Following his sports career, Jackson’s community impact continued as he created the Action 83 Foundation with a mission to provide support to military families, focusing on the educational, emotional, and physical health of children. 

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Individual or Team nominees for induction must have lived, trained, worked or competed in the Greater Pikes Peak Region during their athletic careers or service. In addition, candidates for induction must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and character, and through these characteristics, inspired others. Once an individual has been nominated, they are eligible for five years.  After five years, they must be nominated again in order to be considered for induction.

Event and/or Organization nominees for induction must be located in, or have direct relations to services initiated or completed in the Greater Pikes Peak Region during their history. The organization and/or event must have substantial notoriety and a strong presence in the Colorado Springs area. Defining moments in sport and specific events of singular importance are eligible. The nominee must also have known contributions to the growth of professional, collegiate, amateur, or high-school sports and/or have a longstanding reputation as a vehicle to enhance the sporting experience for spectators. Once an organization or event has been nominated, they are eligible for five years.  After five years, they must be nominated again in order to be considered for induction.

Mayor John Suthers

Mayor John Suthers, the 41st mayor of Colorado Springs, began his first term in May of 2015. Suthers, a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs, attended grade school and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, and in the top quarter of his law school class at the University of Colorado. After graduation, he returned home and became a Deputy District Attorney in Colorado Springs before spending ten years at the law firm of Sparks, Dix and Enoch.

Suthers carries decades of experience in government and management. Before being elected Mayor, Suthers served as Attorney General of Colorado from 2005 to 2015. Under Suthers’ leadership, the Colorado Attorney General’s office earned a national reputation for excellence. In 2012, he was awarded the Kelly-Wyman Award, the highest honor given by the National Association of Attorneys General. Prior to being Attorney General, he was named by President George W. Bush in 2001 to be United States Attorney for Colorado and he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In 1999, Suthers was appointed by Governor Bill Owens as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, based in Colorado Springs.

His accomplishments as mayor include the annexation of Banning Lewis Ranch, vastly improved relations between the executive and legislative branches of government, finalization of the five “City for Champions Projects” and a renaissance at both the Colorado Springs Airport and Downtown Colorado Springs. Mayor Suthers champions the Olympic City USA branding effort, raising Colorado Springs’ profile as a national sports Mecca and has been instrumental in the completion of the five City for Champions projects across the region driving millions in economic impact and tourism to the community.

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The presentation of this award to individuals or organizations dedicated to the importance of sports as a way to benefit the Colorado Springs economy and contribute to the quality of life for citizens of the Pikes Peak region is a fitting tribute to William Thayer Tutt and the thousands of Colorado Springs residents who have benefitted from his contributions to the sports industry in this community.

Lee Hall

Lee Hall is a true legend among junior golfers in the Pikes Peak region. Hall was recruited by Paul Ransom to be the director of the Pikes Peak Junior Golf program in 1978 and served as the Director for more than three decades, impacting the game of thousands of junior golfers throughout the years. Organizing weekly 18-hole tournaments for athletes between ages 14 and 18 and weekly 9-hole tournaments for athletes between ages 10 and 13, Lee facilitated affordable access to the game of golf for athletes from all over the front range.

 Lee always stressed the importance of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, and hard work during every tournament, inspiring a life-long love for the game of golf, Lee helped lay the foundation for junior golfers to become well-rounded and successful adults. He started a girl’s division of PPJG in 1983 which led to the high schools of Southern Colorado authorizing girl’s golf as a varsity sport. Hall championed Southern Colorado youth and often provided results and information to local media to promote junior golfers and the program for decades.

 Additionally, Hall facilitated selecting candidates from PPJG, processed their applications and fundraised for the Pikes Peak Junior Golf Scholarship Program, an annual scholarship awarded to a college freshman engaged with the PPJG tournament program. The Colorado Golf Hall of Fame honored Hall as the Distinguished Service Award recipient in 2005. 

A visionary leader who helped transform Colorado Springs into a world-renowned center for national and international events, William Thayer Tutt dedicated more than 40 years to sports in the Pikes Peak region and beyond. Tutt cultivated The Broadmoor into a sports mecca, hosting major events such as World Figure Skating and Ice Hockey Championships, the first 10 NCAA Hockey Championships and numerous U.S. Golf Association amateur championships.

In addition, Tutt took an active role in major community events, such as the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and worked with civic and other sports leaders in the community to attract the United States Olympic Committee and many of its member National Governing Bodies to Colorado Springs.

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After completing a 26-year career in the United States Army, Colonel Miller devoted the remainder of his life to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and America’s athletes. He served in a variety of positions for the USOC, including Executive Director from 1973-85. He was President of the U.S. Olympic Foundation from 1985 until his passing in 1996.

Colonel Miller was instrumental in the relocation of United States Olympic Committee headquarters to Colorado Springs in 1978 and remained a steadfast supporter of the value of amateur sports throughout his life.

The Colonel F. Don Miller Award is presented to the person who best reflects the commitment exemplified by Colonel Miller in providing a lasting contribution to the Colorado Springs sports community. The presentation of this award to individuals dedicated to mentoring youth through sports, is a fitting tribute to Colonel Miller and the thousands of young men and women who benefited from his unparalleled service on behalf of our nation’s youth.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Since 1916, when entrepreneur Spencer Penrose began planning his inaugural Pikes Peak National Hill Climb Contest – an invitation-only auto and motorcycle race to the summit of Pikes Peak – elite competitors have added to the legacy of the most formidable hill climb in the world, The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

From the first winner, Rea Lentz with a time of 20:55.60 over a rough gravel road, to today’s paved surface and most finishing in half that time, the 12.42-mile course continues to beckon drivers from around the world. Racing on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain is the ultimate thrill contested in an unpredictable high-altitude environment. This historic race welcomes serious competitors from grassroots garage builds to multimillion dollar factory efforts, all describing the experience in the same way – a humbling, unforgiving, breathtaking thrill ride through 156 turns to the 14,115’ summit of Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain.

The 2022 Race to the Clouds will mark the 100^th running of this iconic event. For over a century, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb highlighted Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, and the Pikes Peak region garnering national and international and media exposure, and driving tens of millions in tourism and economic impact for the region.

Below you will find all previous Hall of Fame inductees and award winners for the Col. F. Don Miller Sports Service Award and the Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award. As the Pikes Peak Community Legacy is a new award for 2022, their are no previous winners of the award. 

2017- Bernard Sandoval

2016- Jack Glavan

2015- Colorado Springs Youth Hockey Pioneers