Bill Rhodes liked to go to the mountains.
He did so when he left La Junta High School in 1952 to attend Western State in Gunnison. He became the Mountaineers’ all-time hero in football, making the Rocky Mountain Conference’s all-conference team as a running back four consecutive years.
Rhodes, 73, went to the mountains again Monday morning to cut firewood outside of his home in Moffat County. He suffered a heart attack and died.
A private family graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday in Gunnison, with an open reception to follow.
Rhodes filled the Western State football record book during his career. His 4,294 career rushing yards once was a national record and remains a school record.
After college, Rhodes played football in Canada and tried out for the Broncos in 1960 before an injury ended his playing days.
“I ran the 100-yard dash in less than 10 seconds,” he said of his playing ability. “I could cut on a dime and I always knew where my blockers were downfield. But I always had very good teammates.”
Rhodes is survived by his wife Suzanne, a son Shawn of Gunnison, and daughters Venai of Gunnison and Debbie of Bonanza.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
Running team wins senior division.
The Denver-based team of Helena Harman, Carol Whipple, Celeste Callahan and Lark Birdsong won their division and finished with the best overall women’s time at the Race Across America last month after relaying the 3,014 miles from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., in 8 days, 4 hours, and 37 minutes.
Harman, age 50, Whipple, 50, Callahan, 65, and Birdsong, 57, negotiated the transcontinental route by tag-teaming through 15 states nonstop between June 11-19. They won the senior division and topped two other all-women teams.
