Colorado University Athletics
Dozen To Be Awarded Prestigious Honorary C
October 18, 2024 | General, Alumni C Club
Program Began In 1955
BOULDER — There will be 12 new additions to the University of Colorado's list of "Honorary C" recipients, a prestigious honor afforded those who have been dedicated to intercollegiate athletics.
The Honorary C program was the idea of then-athletic director Harry Carlson in 1955, when the inaugural class consisted of 15 honorees, including all head coaches at the time: Dal Ward (football), Frank Potts (track and field), H.B. Lee (basketball), Frank Prentup (baseball), Tom Jacobs (skiing), Charles Vavra (gymnastics) and Roland Balch (swimming). Including the 10 this year's class, 302 loyal Buffaloes will have been awarded the distinguished honor, which is presented to a person or persons for their dedication of service or contributions to University of Colorado Athletics.
Alumni C Club executive director, Kimbirly Orr, herself an Honorary C recipient in 2022, understands the significance and recognition that comes with the honor.
"It is not lost on me as to what giving back is," she said. "It's not always a monetary gift, but service to CU Boulder, whether you are an alum or not, is invaluable. Many are or were longtime employees, or others in the community that stepped up in a variety of ways to donate their time, energy and/or finances to help the student-athletes or department as a whole."
The recipients are selected by representatives from both the athletic department staff and the Alumni C-Club Board. Joining the previous 290 awardees are the following 12 who will honored at halftime of the Cincinnati football game on Saturday night, Oct. 26:
David Callan. After a long career in public education, he joined the athletic department in July 2011. Having served the student-athlete in various roles since his arrival, he is the leadership coordinator for CU's innovative Scripps Student-Athlete & Career Development program. He oversees experiential leadership for the athletes and coordinates staff development.
Dr. Joe Jupille. An associate professor of political science at CU since joining the faculty in 2005, he is in his eighth year as the school's Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR), as he assumed the position in July 2017; he held that position for CU's last seven years in the Pac-12 Conference and now has similar responsibilities with CU returning to the Big 12. He is just the seventh FAR in CU history.
Chris Lear. Though he did not run cross country for CU (his wife Shawn was a middle-distance runner), he authored the book, Running With The Buffaloes, which extensively documented CU's 1998 cross country season from summer workouts through the NCAA Championships. A popular publication in the running community, it was published in 2000.
Karen Lechman. Starting out as the administrative assistant for the cross country and track coaches in the late 1990s, five years in she was promoted to the program's director of operations. Now with nearly a quarter century of service, she has been an incredible asset to the coaches and the student-athletes, making everything run smoothly from coordinating travel, meet management and recruiting.
Jose Lopez-Tanori. He has held several positions since joining the athletic department, most within facilities and grounds; recently promoted to director of grounds, he heads the area that perhaps has the most "unsung" heroes in athletics. His time, dedication, commitment to athletics along with extensive knowledge of his field, is echoed by many, including those associated with campus grounds, the rec center and waste management.
Marge Marcy. She joined the athletic department in 2009 and is now in her 16th year in the athletic department, the 15th as the executive assistant to head men's basketball coach Tad Boyle. She also handles the administrative and business sides of the budget, human resources, personnel procedures, coordinating team and recruiting travel and helps in all areas with the team's summer camps.
Randy & Linda Miller. The Miller's became avid supporters of CU athletics when Randy was the long-time publisher of the Colorado Daily, when it was the "tweener" publication between the Boulder Camera and CU Campus Press (most students believed it was the student paper but was staffed with mostly professional journalists). Regulars at CU home basketball games – men's and women's – they also took a sincere interest in women's golf since it was added as a varsity program in 1994 and recently created a scholarship in the name of Anne Kelly, who retired last May after 27 years as head coach.
Danny Sanchez. Hired as CU's third women's soccer coach in history on Dec. 19, 2011, he recently coached his 250th game and is the winningest coach in program history (record of 143-82-37 as of Oct. 15). The Buffaloes have earned seven NCAA tournament appearances during his tenure, and has often been ranked in the nation's Top 25.
Lee & Char Snyder. The Snyder's have been the CU's tennis teams –both women's and the former men's – most loyal fans, dating back to at least the early 1980s. Not only with financial support (he donated funds for the former on-campus courts adjacent to Kittredge Hall), but has regularly attended most home matches – and several on the road – to support the student-athletes. He is also an avid CU sports fan across the board, particularly with football and basketball.
Dr. Michelle Wolcott. She has now been involved in CU's sports medicine program for over two decades, serving primarily as the orthopedic physician for the men's and women's basketball teams since 2003. Also very active and respected nationally for her work with the American Orthopedic Society for sports medicine and with Safe Sport.
The Honorary C program was the idea of then-athletic director Harry Carlson in 1955, when the inaugural class consisted of 15 honorees, including all head coaches at the time: Dal Ward (football), Frank Potts (track and field), H.B. Lee (basketball), Frank Prentup (baseball), Tom Jacobs (skiing), Charles Vavra (gymnastics) and Roland Balch (swimming). Including the 10 this year's class, 302 loyal Buffaloes will have been awarded the distinguished honor, which is presented to a person or persons for their dedication of service or contributions to University of Colorado Athletics.
Alumni C Club executive director, Kimbirly Orr, herself an Honorary C recipient in 2022, understands the significance and recognition that comes with the honor.
"It is not lost on me as to what giving back is," she said. "It's not always a monetary gift, but service to CU Boulder, whether you are an alum or not, is invaluable. Many are or were longtime employees, or others in the community that stepped up in a variety of ways to donate their time, energy and/or finances to help the student-athletes or department as a whole."
The recipients are selected by representatives from both the athletic department staff and the Alumni C-Club Board. Joining the previous 290 awardees are the following 12 who will honored at halftime of the Cincinnati football game on Saturday night, Oct. 26:
David Callan. After a long career in public education, he joined the athletic department in July 2011. Having served the student-athlete in various roles since his arrival, he is the leadership coordinator for CU's innovative Scripps Student-Athlete & Career Development program. He oversees experiential leadership for the athletes and coordinates staff development.
Dr. Joe Jupille. An associate professor of political science at CU since joining the faculty in 2005, he is in his eighth year as the school's Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR), as he assumed the position in July 2017; he held that position for CU's last seven years in the Pac-12 Conference and now has similar responsibilities with CU returning to the Big 12. He is just the seventh FAR in CU history.
Chris Lear. Though he did not run cross country for CU (his wife Shawn was a middle-distance runner), he authored the book, Running With The Buffaloes, which extensively documented CU's 1998 cross country season from summer workouts through the NCAA Championships. A popular publication in the running community, it was published in 2000.
Karen Lechman. Starting out as the administrative assistant for the cross country and track coaches in the late 1990s, five years in she was promoted to the program's director of operations. Now with nearly a quarter century of service, she has been an incredible asset to the coaches and the student-athletes, making everything run smoothly from coordinating travel, meet management and recruiting.
Jose Lopez-Tanori. He has held several positions since joining the athletic department, most within facilities and grounds; recently promoted to director of grounds, he heads the area that perhaps has the most "unsung" heroes in athletics. His time, dedication, commitment to athletics along with extensive knowledge of his field, is echoed by many, including those associated with campus grounds, the rec center and waste management.
Marge Marcy. She joined the athletic department in 2009 and is now in her 16th year in the athletic department, the 15th as the executive assistant to head men's basketball coach Tad Boyle. She also handles the administrative and business sides of the budget, human resources, personnel procedures, coordinating team and recruiting travel and helps in all areas with the team's summer camps.
Randy & Linda Miller. The Miller's became avid supporters of CU athletics when Randy was the long-time publisher of the Colorado Daily, when it was the "tweener" publication between the Boulder Camera and CU Campus Press (most students believed it was the student paper but was staffed with mostly professional journalists). Regulars at CU home basketball games – men's and women's – they also took a sincere interest in women's golf since it was added as a varsity program in 1994 and recently created a scholarship in the name of Anne Kelly, who retired last May after 27 years as head coach.
Danny Sanchez. Hired as CU's third women's soccer coach in history on Dec. 19, 2011, he recently coached his 250th game and is the winningest coach in program history (record of 143-82-37 as of Oct. 15). The Buffaloes have earned seven NCAA tournament appearances during his tenure, and has often been ranked in the nation's Top 25.
Lee & Char Snyder. The Snyder's have been the CU's tennis teams –both women's and the former men's – most loyal fans, dating back to at least the early 1980s. Not only with financial support (he donated funds for the former on-campus courts adjacent to Kittredge Hall), but has regularly attended most home matches – and several on the road – to support the student-athletes. He is also an avid CU sports fan across the board, particularly with football and basketball.
Dr. Michelle Wolcott. She has now been involved in CU's sports medicine program for over two decades, serving primarily as the orthopedic physician for the men's and women's basketball teams since 2003. Also very active and respected nationally for her work with the American Orthopedic Society for sports medicine and with Safe Sport.
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