Versatility is the key word to describe the six honorees that make up the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame’s class of 2009, which was chosen by a selection committee Monday.
The spectrum includes major-league baseball (Rockies owner Jerry McMorris), pro football (Broncos receiver Rod Smith), college football (CSU’s Sonny Lubick) and hockey (DU’s Ralph Backstrom).
Also chosen by the panel of sports media were Lo Hunter, who made her mark coaching girls athletics in high school, and John Mosley, who came out of Manual High School and became the first African-American football player at Colorado A&M (now CSU) in 1939.
McMorris stepped up at a critical time to help create an ownership group to run the Rockies baseball team.
“We were told that if our ownership group hadn’t come together, we wouldn’t have gotten a team,” said McMorris, who led the Rockies through the first nine years of the expansion franchise’s existence.
Lubick is enjoying his first year off after coaching Colorado State for 15 years.
“The first thing you think of are all the players and coaches I had, because they’re the reason I received this award,” Lubick said. “I’m a fan now.”
Smith is the all-time leading receiver for the Broncos with 849 receptions, 11,389 yards and 68 receiving touchdowns in his career from 1995-2006.
“I gave the Broncos everything I had,” Smith said. “I love to teach, but I don’t see coaching right now. I always want to see the Broncos do better, but I don’t want to be there 14 hours a day to coach.”
Hunter’s volleyball teams won nine state championships, eight in a row. At one time, her Evergreen team won 182 consecutive matches, then a national record.
The induction banquet is Tuesday, April 14, at the Denver Marriott City Center.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
