Dr. Sam Batey Legacy Celebration

Sam Batey was a phenomenal star in every sense of the word–both on and off the court. Friends, supporters and admirers gathered at the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum at Empower Field on at Mile High on Tuesday to honor his legacy.

Dr. Batey’s wife Barbara and extended family members were in attendance to announce the Sam Batey Legacy Endowment, as well as plans for the inaugural Batey Legacy Golf Tournament in 2023.

The Bateys met at Pueblo Junior College in the fall of 1961 when Barbara enrolled in the school as a freshman from New Orleans and Sam was starting his first year as a student and playing basketball after a standout prep career at Denver East. Sam was a four-season starter for the then-Indians and became the first player to play four-straight seasons at the school as Pueblo Junior College became Southern Colorado State College in the fall of 1963.  Both Barbara and Sam served as principals in the Denver Public Schools system and earned their doctorate degrees from the University of Colorado in the late 1990s. Sam passed away on July 19, 2021.  Barbara continues to live in Denver surrounded by her two children (Sam Jr. and Dana) and four grandchildren (Jordan, Brooklyn, Morgan and Pryce).

Tim Simmons gave a resounding introduction and recalled the numerous ways that the Batey and Simmons family have been intertwined over the years. Tim’s dad was renowned coach Harry “The Chief” Simmons, who counted Sam Batey as one of his most exemplary basketball players and scholars.

Sam Batey Jr., CSU-Pueblo Athletic Director Dr. Paul Plinske, CSU-Pueblo President Dr. Timothy Mottet, Martha Simmons, coach Matt Hammer and Todd Kelly from the CSU-P Foundation all added comments and star players of the CSU-P basketball team were introduced.

Sam Batey serves as an extraordinary role model and scholarship recipients will have an outstanding role model to follow. Stay tuned for the Batey Legacy golf tournament in July, 2023.