Photo by: Bart Emery
Live From CU's 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction
October 27, 2022 | General, Alumni C Club
Twelve To Be Inducted
Welcome to one of our most special nights of the year in CU Athletics … the annual induction of the newest members into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame. Tonight, we are welcoming nine new inductees in the Hall's 17th class, plus the rebirth of CU's Hall of Honor after a 35-year dormancy with two inductees, and two special inductees into the Hall's new Legacy Wing.
(Link to the evening's video: https://youtu.be/7K7c_xrAMRQ)
To read about the class, complete with in-depth biographies, click on this link: https://cubuffs.com/news/2022/6/27/general-cu-athletics-creatis-hall-of-fame-legacy-wing-restore-hall-of-honor.aspx. To read about the Hall of Honor and Legacy inductees, click here: https://cubuffs.com/news/2022/6/27/general-cu-athletics-creatis-hall-of-fame-legacy-wing-restore-hall-of-honor.aspx.
And we are underway … Mark Johnson, the voice of the Buffaloes, is the emcee … as always … Telling the inductees that they were selected among a group of so many deserving the recognition. Went through introducing some VIPs and then brought Savanna Perry of the volleyball team to speak (a senior, she's the co-president of CU's SAAC). She spoke about what the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee does, from sponsoring events like the CUSPY's and what they do with the Pac-12 and NCAA. And she happened to mention she's the great-granddaughter of late CU head football coach, Dal Ward. How good a speaker was she? You'd thought she was reading from a teleprompter -- which there was not one!
Next up was Kimbirly Orr, CU's executive director of the Alumni C-Club … first noting this was one of her favorite nights of the year (which means put this on your bucket list if you're a CU fan). She asked the C Club board and all previous Hall of Fame inductees to stand and be recognized. Several are in attendance this evening.
Up next was athletic director Rick George .. he said he was thankful for many things, one of which was not following Savannah. Told Savannah she was awesome and a great representative of our student-athletes. He rolled through the class members, and recollected that he recruited two of the inductees, Greg Biekert and Jay Leeuwenburg. And he when he brought up the new Legacy Wing and how he thoroughly enjoyed delivering the news to Peggy Coppom, the 97-year old survivor of CU's famous "Super Twins" (sister Betty Hoover passed in 2020) ... and they shared root beer floats over the news.
First up was Hall of Honor inductee Jim Hansen (Football, 1989-92) … he went through a roll call of the people most responsible for who helped him along the way … starting with his parents and ending with a corps of close teammates. In-between, he cited three of his most important professors, Steve Hatchell of the National Football Foundation (and made a point of noting everything that the NFF does for college football) and Joe Romig, a fellow Rhodes Scholar.
Next up was the second Honor inductee, Eric McCarty (Football 1983-87). He said that everyone that comes to CU has a story, creating a neat fabric, and cited a Bible verse. He also said it wasn't about him, it was about those who helped him along the way. He started with how he could hear the PA from the stadium from his house, which was wedged between Macky Auditorium and Boulder High School. How he watched Charlie Davis and those Buff teams run over everybody. He would go to games and beg for a wristband, anything from players leaving the field.
He fast-forwarded to February 1983 … when Bill McCartney asked all the state's top recruits to not commit to anywhere until they visited CU on the last weekend of the recruiting season. Twenty in all, several here tonight. He talked about the seasons he played, and how luck would have it—CU didn't got to a bowl his senior season (1987), but he went to the Blue-Gray All-Star game, where he would meet his future wife, Miriam, the first night he was there.
And on to the Hall of Fame inductees, beginning with Greg Biekert.(Football, 1989-92). Biekert began with the same theme of it being about the people who helped get him here… he started with Bill McCartney, knowing his faith, the type of program he ran here. He sat down with his dad and went through the pros and cons of everywhere he was considering. CU had mostly pros, so it was an easy decision to come here. Mac had this way of telling you that you could do better. We had a sense of family; I was here when Sal (Aunese) passed away, and that really pulled our teams together, maybe for four or five years.
I was sitting behind Kanavis McGhee and Alfred Williams at outside linebacker … wasn't going to play much, and was asked if I'd liked to move inside. Mentioned his position coach, a CU Hall of Famer Brian Cabral, who was his best man at his wedding.
Charlie Davis (Football, 1971-73) was next; his nephew spoke on his behalf. He told all that Charlie had several strokes year ago; Charlie did make it to the stage to join him. He said that when his uncle brought the '71 highlight tape to his house, that he kept it ... and the statute of limitations has run out in giving it back. He is so proud of his uncle from a small town in Texas that had 4200 people, that he was an inspiration to him. Charlie did speak at the end, thanking the good Lord.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Charlie went over the 1,000-yard mark with a 67-yard TD run against Oklahoma State; Rashaan Salaam went over the 2,000-yard mark in 1994 with a 67-yard TD run against Iowa State.
Jane Frederick (Track & Field, 1970-73) followed. She began by citing her family, and how her father, a track star in his own right, couldn't compete in 1918 due to coming down with the Spanish Flu. She only ran one official track meet for CU -- her sport didn't have varsity status until 1973 -- it was the AIAW national championship (pentathlon) and she won it. She spoke about how she had a roommate in her dorm who was a skier from New Hampshire; there were times when I needed some place to train, and the ski coach--the great Bill Marolt -- said "come train with us." I will never forget Bill Marolt. "I think about where I am now, and thank goodness for athletics." She thanked CU for bringing her back, for Lindsey Malone inviting her to track practice.
Maria Grevsgaard (Skiing, 2006-09) was next. "There's no way this girl from Norway who landed at Denver's airport would be standing here today as a Hall of Famer." She said they went straight to practice from the airport, and how she was winded about halfway through. "What am I doing here?" and the coaches must have been wondering the same. (She went on to win almost two dozen races, including a sweep of the Nordic events in the 2008 NCAA's). She pointed out how her teammates became her best friends, how everyone in the CU athletic department became family. She especially cited her coaches -- Richard Rokos, Bruce Cranmer.
The next recipient was the great skier Jimmy Griffith (Skiing 1947-51); current CU head ski coach Andy LeRoy accepted for him. He thanked the selection committee for recognizing Jimmy, who he said was the first CU superstar in the sport, the one who got things rolling in the ski program, the 13 skiers inducted into CU's Hall, and laying the ground for CU's first national title in 1959.
Yolanda Johnson (Track & Field, 1986-90) was the next to be inducted. She congratulated all the other inductees. "A coach change the game, a great coach can change a life." At the end of her career, she said she was still undecided on where to go; she got a call from CU's late head coach, Jerry Quiller. He said he'd like to tell her what CU could offer; she joked, "does that include a Corvette." Jerry said yes -- but she told anyone in compliance in attendance, she never got the car. She thanked Quiller for making her what she was today -- a collegiate track coach (she said jokingly that she "never wanted to coach someone like me."). Also thanked her high school coach and club track coaches. She also thanked her father, citing he worked three jobs and make the sacrifices so her and her siblings could have the life he never had. She ended with, "The honor is not the recognition of my hard work, but the power that my village had to get me to this place."
Jay Leeuwenburg, Football (1988-91) was next. He started by thanking his family, who he cited as being instrumental in getting to this stage in his life. Bragged with pride about his daughters, two of whom are Buffs, and his wife, Karen, who he called the "Darian Hagan of our family." He linked that to the teammates and coaches that he had. He spoke of his veteran teammates, how huge that were, and they were mean, and here he was this, this smaller kid. And then having to go against the defensive guys in practice. CU took a chance on him despite he missing several games as a senior with a foot infection; he had a great playoff game and CU noticed him.
He went on to speak about some games – a certain Fifth Down in Missouri – the way that team grounded things out that year, opening with a tie to who wins a game 10-9 on a blocked extra point.
Former athletic director Dick Tharp was next. He began with when he interviewed Mark Johnson to replace Larry Zimmer on KOA, that he didn't wear a black hat. He said what was special was the creation of the Hall of Fame, Living Legends, etc., there are two purposes. One, what we're doing tonight -- recognizing people with the wonderful accomplishments and their memories of the association with the university. The second part is to create an institutional memory, what it does to provide the opportunity for success. You create an experience and learning base to forward progress and success in terms on what you're doing for young people. If I had my way, I'd make every university employee take a course called, "Institutional Memories." The memories in this room speak to that, they are the fabric of your life." He then spoke of his three sons, Travis, Tucker and Taylor and how they were raised by a very special women (his late wife Melinda), his current partner and several close friends, including Bill and Connie Marolt, Gary and Mary Barnett, John and Lindalu Meadows and Bob and Lisa Ven Goor Bauers.. "Tonight, the University of Colorado has given me one more memory."
The final Hall of Fame inductee, Debbie Willcox Mills (Gymnastics 1978-80, and classmate of mine :), Started out my saying how she enjoyed her years at the University of Colorado and how her coaches were the best, as well as CU's trainers, specifically Andy Pruitt, who "put her back together several times." She mentioned that she is still in touch with many of her teammates to this day and how thankful she was to be at CU.
Last but as the saying goes, certainly not least. And no way we couldn't end with the inductees of our new Legacy Wing, Peggy Coppom and the late Betty Hoover. Mark Johnson told the story that after he first started here, the twins told him, "If the weather ever gets bad, we don't want you driving on the roads, you can sleep on our couch."
"How did this ever happen?!" Peggy started with, wondering how they became so famous. She said Betty said to her before she died, "We've sure had a lot of fun, haven't we?" She noted how ger children and grandchildren are CU graduates and will carry on the tradition for them. She ended with one of the best comments ever at our Hall of Fame:
"I can't think of anyone or anybody for getting an award like this for having a good time."
Sally Mark spoke on behalf of her month, Betty. She thanked the committee, and then said that Peggy asked how did this happen? I'll tell you how it happened. It happened because of their love of CU, the entire school. Their whole-hearted true genuine support for all the teams. They've cheered for the Ralphie handlers, the cheerleaders, the band and for the dance teams. It happened because they never -ever left a game early (and that's sort of been forced on the rest of us, too). Those players have to stay to the end of the game, so we did too. They never turned down taking a picture with the fans, they've rarely seen a halftime at a basketball game because they're taking pictures. They have a love of sports, but have a love of people, all of which is rooted in their commitment to the Lord."
"Finally, eben though my mom is in heaven, she is watching, shaking her pom poms, singing the fight song. " And with that, the 400-plus in attendance ended the night with the fight song.
(The event as always, run smoothly at was over at 8:35.)
(Link to the evening's video: https://youtu.be/7K7c_xrAMRQ)
To read about the class, complete with in-depth biographies, click on this link: https://cubuffs.com/news/2022/6/27/general-cu-athletics-creatis-hall-of-fame-legacy-wing-restore-hall-of-honor.aspx. To read about the Hall of Honor and Legacy inductees, click here: https://cubuffs.com/news/2022/6/27/general-cu-athletics-creatis-hall-of-fame-legacy-wing-restore-hall-of-honor.aspx.
And we are underway … Mark Johnson, the voice of the Buffaloes, is the emcee … as always … Telling the inductees that they were selected among a group of so many deserving the recognition. Went through introducing some VIPs and then brought Savanna Perry of the volleyball team to speak (a senior, she's the co-president of CU's SAAC). She spoke about what the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee does, from sponsoring events like the CUSPY's and what they do with the Pac-12 and NCAA. And she happened to mention she's the great-granddaughter of late CU head football coach, Dal Ward. How good a speaker was she? You'd thought she was reading from a teleprompter -- which there was not one!
Next up was Kimbirly Orr, CU's executive director of the Alumni C-Club … first noting this was one of her favorite nights of the year (which means put this on your bucket list if you're a CU fan). She asked the C Club board and all previous Hall of Fame inductees to stand and be recognized. Several are in attendance this evening.
Up next was athletic director Rick George .. he said he was thankful for many things, one of which was not following Savannah. Told Savannah she was awesome and a great representative of our student-athletes. He rolled through the class members, and recollected that he recruited two of the inductees, Greg Biekert and Jay Leeuwenburg. And he when he brought up the new Legacy Wing and how he thoroughly enjoyed delivering the news to Peggy Coppom, the 97-year old survivor of CU's famous "Super Twins" (sister Betty Hoover passed in 2020) ... and they shared root beer floats over the news.
First up was Hall of Honor inductee Jim Hansen (Football, 1989-92) … he went through a roll call of the people most responsible for who helped him along the way … starting with his parents and ending with a corps of close teammates. In-between, he cited three of his most important professors, Steve Hatchell of the National Football Foundation (and made a point of noting everything that the NFF does for college football) and Joe Romig, a fellow Rhodes Scholar.
Next up was the second Honor inductee, Eric McCarty (Football 1983-87). He said that everyone that comes to CU has a story, creating a neat fabric, and cited a Bible verse. He also said it wasn't about him, it was about those who helped him along the way. He started with how he could hear the PA from the stadium from his house, which was wedged between Macky Auditorium and Boulder High School. How he watched Charlie Davis and those Buff teams run over everybody. He would go to games and beg for a wristband, anything from players leaving the field.
He fast-forwarded to February 1983 … when Bill McCartney asked all the state's top recruits to not commit to anywhere until they visited CU on the last weekend of the recruiting season. Twenty in all, several here tonight. He talked about the seasons he played, and how luck would have it—CU didn't got to a bowl his senior season (1987), but he went to the Blue-Gray All-Star game, where he would meet his future wife, Miriam, the first night he was there.
And on to the Hall of Fame inductees, beginning with Greg Biekert.(Football, 1989-92). Biekert began with the same theme of it being about the people who helped get him here… he started with Bill McCartney, knowing his faith, the type of program he ran here. He sat down with his dad and went through the pros and cons of everywhere he was considering. CU had mostly pros, so it was an easy decision to come here. Mac had this way of telling you that you could do better. We had a sense of family; I was here when Sal (Aunese) passed away, and that really pulled our teams together, maybe for four or five years.
I was sitting behind Kanavis McGhee and Alfred Williams at outside linebacker … wasn't going to play much, and was asked if I'd liked to move inside. Mentioned his position coach, a CU Hall of Famer Brian Cabral, who was his best man at his wedding.
Charlie Davis (Football, 1971-73) was next; his nephew spoke on his behalf. He told all that Charlie had several strokes year ago; Charlie did make it to the stage to join him. He said that when his uncle brought the '71 highlight tape to his house, that he kept it ... and the statute of limitations has run out in giving it back. He is so proud of his uncle from a small town in Texas that had 4200 people, that he was an inspiration to him. Charlie did speak at the end, thanking the good Lord.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Charlie went over the 1,000-yard mark with a 67-yard TD run against Oklahoma State; Rashaan Salaam went over the 2,000-yard mark in 1994 with a 67-yard TD run against Iowa State.
Jane Frederick (Track & Field, 1970-73) followed. She began by citing her family, and how her father, a track star in his own right, couldn't compete in 1918 due to coming down with the Spanish Flu. She only ran one official track meet for CU -- her sport didn't have varsity status until 1973 -- it was the AIAW national championship (pentathlon) and she won it. She spoke about how she had a roommate in her dorm who was a skier from New Hampshire; there were times when I needed some place to train, and the ski coach--the great Bill Marolt -- said "come train with us." I will never forget Bill Marolt. "I think about where I am now, and thank goodness for athletics." She thanked CU for bringing her back, for Lindsey Malone inviting her to track practice.
Maria Grevsgaard (Skiing, 2006-09) was next. "There's no way this girl from Norway who landed at Denver's airport would be standing here today as a Hall of Famer." She said they went straight to practice from the airport, and how she was winded about halfway through. "What am I doing here?" and the coaches must have been wondering the same. (She went on to win almost two dozen races, including a sweep of the Nordic events in the 2008 NCAA's). She pointed out how her teammates became her best friends, how everyone in the CU athletic department became family. She especially cited her coaches -- Richard Rokos, Bruce Cranmer.
The next recipient was the great skier Jimmy Griffith (Skiing 1947-51); current CU head ski coach Andy LeRoy accepted for him. He thanked the selection committee for recognizing Jimmy, who he said was the first CU superstar in the sport, the one who got things rolling in the ski program, the 13 skiers inducted into CU's Hall, and laying the ground for CU's first national title in 1959.
Yolanda Johnson (Track & Field, 1986-90) was the next to be inducted. She congratulated all the other inductees. "A coach change the game, a great coach can change a life." At the end of her career, she said she was still undecided on where to go; she got a call from CU's late head coach, Jerry Quiller. He said he'd like to tell her what CU could offer; she joked, "does that include a Corvette." Jerry said yes -- but she told anyone in compliance in attendance, she never got the car. She thanked Quiller for making her what she was today -- a collegiate track coach (she said jokingly that she "never wanted to coach someone like me."). Also thanked her high school coach and club track coaches. She also thanked her father, citing he worked three jobs and make the sacrifices so her and her siblings could have the life he never had. She ended with, "The honor is not the recognition of my hard work, but the power that my village had to get me to this place."
Jay Leeuwenburg, Football (1988-91) was next. He started by thanking his family, who he cited as being instrumental in getting to this stage in his life. Bragged with pride about his daughters, two of whom are Buffs, and his wife, Karen, who he called the "Darian Hagan of our family." He linked that to the teammates and coaches that he had. He spoke of his veteran teammates, how huge that were, and they were mean, and here he was this, this smaller kid. And then having to go against the defensive guys in practice. CU took a chance on him despite he missing several games as a senior with a foot infection; he had a great playoff game and CU noticed him.
He went on to speak about some games – a certain Fifth Down in Missouri – the way that team grounded things out that year, opening with a tie to who wins a game 10-9 on a blocked extra point.
Former athletic director Dick Tharp was next. He began with when he interviewed Mark Johnson to replace Larry Zimmer on KOA, that he didn't wear a black hat. He said what was special was the creation of the Hall of Fame, Living Legends, etc., there are two purposes. One, what we're doing tonight -- recognizing people with the wonderful accomplishments and their memories of the association with the university. The second part is to create an institutional memory, what it does to provide the opportunity for success. You create an experience and learning base to forward progress and success in terms on what you're doing for young people. If I had my way, I'd make every university employee take a course called, "Institutional Memories." The memories in this room speak to that, they are the fabric of your life." He then spoke of his three sons, Travis, Tucker and Taylor and how they were raised by a very special women (his late wife Melinda), his current partner and several close friends, including Bill and Connie Marolt, Gary and Mary Barnett, John and Lindalu Meadows and Bob and Lisa Ven Goor Bauers.. "Tonight, the University of Colorado has given me one more memory."
The final Hall of Fame inductee, Debbie Willcox Mills (Gymnastics 1978-80, and classmate of mine :), Started out my saying how she enjoyed her years at the University of Colorado and how her coaches were the best, as well as CU's trainers, specifically Andy Pruitt, who "put her back together several times." She mentioned that she is still in touch with many of her teammates to this day and how thankful she was to be at CU.
Last but as the saying goes, certainly not least. And no way we couldn't end with the inductees of our new Legacy Wing, Peggy Coppom and the late Betty Hoover. Mark Johnson told the story that after he first started here, the twins told him, "If the weather ever gets bad, we don't want you driving on the roads, you can sleep on our couch."
"How did this ever happen?!" Peggy started with, wondering how they became so famous. She said Betty said to her before she died, "We've sure had a lot of fun, haven't we?" She noted how ger children and grandchildren are CU graduates and will carry on the tradition for them. She ended with one of the best comments ever at our Hall of Fame:
"I can't think of anyone or anybody for getting an award like this for having a good time."
Sally Mark spoke on behalf of her month, Betty. She thanked the committee, and then said that Peggy asked how did this happen? I'll tell you how it happened. It happened because of their love of CU, the entire school. Their whole-hearted true genuine support for all the teams. They've cheered for the Ralphie handlers, the cheerleaders, the band and for the dance teams. It happened because they never -ever left a game early (and that's sort of been forced on the rest of us, too). Those players have to stay to the end of the game, so we did too. They never turned down taking a picture with the fans, they've rarely seen a halftime at a basketball game because they're taking pictures. They have a love of sports, but have a love of people, all of which is rooted in their commitment to the Lord."
"Finally, eben though my mom is in heaven, she is watching, shaking her pom poms, singing the fight song. " And with that, the 400-plus in attendance ended the night with the fight song.
(The event as always, run smoothly at was over at 8:35.)
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