
Two extraordinary couples were inducted into the Pueblo Hall of Fame Friday night.

Honorees Art and Lorraine Gonzales with their award
Art and Lorraine Gonzales –It would be difficult to find a Pueblo “cause” or organization that Art and Lorraine Gonzales haven’t supported over the years. The Pueblo Symphony, Pueblo Municipal Band, Pueblo Community College, Broadway Theater League, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Pueblo YMCA, the Medal of Honor Society, Pueblo County Jazz Band and numerous other groups have benefitted from their generosity. In addition, they established a baseball endowment at Colorado State University-Pueblo to provide scholarships and the university hosts the Art & Lorraine Gonzales Youth Baseball Clinic.
They have been inducted into both the CSU-Pueblo and PCC President’s Circles, received the CSU-Pueblo Alumni “Outstanding Service Award,” and the university’s “Outstanding American Achievement Award” for exceptional service and support of higher education. He was named to the CSU-Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame, and is a lifetime member of CSU-Pueblo’s “Friends of Football” organization.
Art Gonzales was born in Pueblo and graduated from Central High and then attended Midwest Business College. Following four years in the Navy, Art returned to work at the Pueblo Flour Mill until it closed in 1956. After working for plumbing and sheet metal companies, Art partnered with Puebloan Sam Brown in 1966 to open Mountain States Sheet Metal Company. Art always lived by the motto that: “Your word is your bond.” And he also credits his success to the strong work ethic he learned from his father. Art retired in 1980, selling his company interest to Brown. He acknowledged Brown’s daughter Renee, in attendance Friday night, by saying the business is “in excellent hands with the next generation.”
Lorraine met Art and married in 1985. She is a native of Kit Carson and earned a two-year secretarial degree from Colorado Women’s College in Denver.
Their tremendous love for Pueblo is evidenced by the support they have given over several decades. There is no question that they have contributed to the betterment of the city.

Honorees Jim and Paulette Stuart with their award
James and Paulette Stuart–this husband and wife team is well known for their tireless and enthusiastic support for Pueblo, and the real difference that they have made to the quality of life here. They both have been leaders in the Pueblo’s Home of Heroes program.
Paulette attended Southern Colorado State College and began working for Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. She then became director of advertising & public relations for the Loaf N’ Jug stores. For her last 23 career working years, Paulette was promotions manager for The Pueblo Chieftain.
Paulette has been instrumental in the revitalization of Union Avenue, Veteran’s Bridge, and Pueblo’s Home of Heroes. She’s worked on United Way campaigns and helped develop the InfoZone News Museum at the Rawlings Library. She was named the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year and the Woman of the Year by both the Pueblo YWCA and the Pueblo Girls’ Club. She was given the Mel Harmon Community Service Award. In addition, Paulette was the first woman to be accepted into the Minnequa Rotary Club and was Rotarian of the Year five times.
Jim Stuart is a Central High graduate and was Part owner/President/CEO/Director of Sangray Corporation.
Jim’s community service work has been prolific. His volunteerism has benefitted such organizations as the Pueblo Medal of Honor Society, Impossible Players, Roselawn Cemetery, Medal of Honor Foundation, and Pueblo City & County Community Services Advisory Commission. And Jim’s work for the Pueblo City/County Library has been simply awesome, earning him the nickname of “Mr. Library.” He is president of the Pueblo Library Foundation, which he helped found, and also helped develop, and now manages, the library’s used bookstore. He spearheaded the creation of four branch libraries in Pueblo County. His service earned him the Friends of the Library’s “Friend of the Year”, and he was honored as the Outstanding Library Trustee by the Colorado Association of Libraries.
It was obvious that Jim and Paulette Stuart are each other’s greatest fans. Both teared up when talking about the other and their accomplishments.
The Pueblo Hall of Fame was established in 1991 as a way in which to honor those individuals who, by their extraordinary efforts, have contributed to the betterment or enhancement of the Pueblo community.
Nominees are considered on the basis of contributions in the following areas: business and labor; arts and humanities, philanthropy, government; law; science and technology; and health and human services.
Thanks to the generosity and support of Barbara Fortino, the Pueblo Hall of Fame Wall has returned to Pueblo Community College and the NEW wall of fame serves as a beautiful dedication to those past and present inductees who have given so much to the Pueblo community.
“I am thrilled that I could assist in bringing back the Pueblo Hall of Fame wall of inductees,” explains 2014 Pueblo Hall of Fame Legacy Sponsor Barbara Fortino. “These men and women deserve a dedicated space in which to honor their induction into the Pueblo Hall of Fame and offer a visual pictorial of those individuals who have donated so much to our community. I am proud to be a part of making this Wall of Fame once again a reality on the PCC campus.”
Joining Fortino in bringing the Pueblo Hall of Fame Wall back to Pueblo Community College are local artisans Jean and Tom Latka who were commissioned to assist in adding an artistic flair to Hall of Fame Wall. The Wall of Fame is located on the second floor of the PCC Student Center within the Fortino Ballroom.
All funds raised at this special Hall of Fame event benefit the Pueblo Community College Foundation and the scholarship program. Since 1981, the Pueblo Community College Foundation has financially supported thousands of students through scholarships at the College’s four branches – Pueblo, Fremont, Southwest Colorado Community Colleges (Cortez and Durango). Scholarships of $329,000 were awarded to PCC students during fiscal year of 2012 – 2013. More than $3 million in scholarship support has been awarded since the Foundation’s incorporation in 1981.
The Pueblo Community College Foundation is dedicated to providing funding to their college campuses and those students that they seek to serve. The Foundation provides funding for scholarship programs and special needs within each campus community.
- CSU-Pueblo musician and professor Dr. Michael Beck provided some music during the reception
- Glenn Parker and his wife Martha Simmons–welcome back to Pueblo, Martha, daughter of “The Chief” Harry Simmons
- Ramona Torrez and Jeanette Cortez helped to welcome guests
- Helen and Don Banner
- PEDCO Board Chair Steve Wright and PCC President Patty Erjavec
- Ross Barnhart, left,(board) and Charles Hastings
- Ralph Williams and board member Jan Williams
- Hon. Dennis Maes and his wife Donna with friend Florence Hunt
- Honoree family: daughter Chris Sandoval, left, her husband Ron Sandoval, their son Nicholas Sandoval, daugther Heather Adams, Paulette Stuart, Don Adams and Jim Stuart
- Shirley Maroney, left, Barbara Fortino, (board and sponsor) Carole Walls (sponsor), Maggie Divelbiss (past inductee) and Kathy Farley (board)
- PCC Public Relations Coordinator Gary Franchi and his wife Carrie Franchi
- Sally and Jack Pecoraro
- Sandy and Marv Stein, past Hall of Fame inductees
- Ricky and Cindy Gonzales, left, Mike O’Brien, Andy Gonzales, Andrea O’Brien and Peggy Gonzales
- Carol Rooney, left, Michael Voute, Kathy Knox, Chris and John Brogan
- Vicky and Kevin Hart
- Black Hills Energy’s Jill Linck, left, John Linck, and Becky Sudduth
- Tom and Dori Thielemier, left, with Burnie and Pam Zercher
- Kathy Knox, left, with Doris Kester, past inductee
- Past Hall of Fame inductees Mary Jo and Dr. Jarvis Ryals
- Jan Williams (board), left, Marguerite Cullen and Wynona Sullivan (board)
- Barb Spaccamonti, left, Diane and Jimmie Porter, Jim Spaccamonti and Nadene Verna
- Helen and Ron Wiley
- Bob and Marlene Palazzo
- Patty Erjavec, center, with Bill and Marlene Bregar
- PCC President Patty Erjavec with honorees Art and Lorraine Gonzales
- PCC Foundation President Sharon Swerdfeger, left, and PCC President Patty Erjavec
- Jennifer Mullen and Jacob Chi, music director, Pueblo Symphony
- Kelly Tucker and Christy Naranjo
- Rich Hough and Rene Brown
- The table settings
- 2014 Hall of Fame inductees Art and Lorraine Gonzales, left, and Paulette and Jim Stuart, right, with PCC President Patty Erjavec in center
- Sharon Swerdfeger, left, Don Banner, Art and Lorraine Gonzales, Patty Erjavec, Paulette and Jim Stuart, Jeff Chostner
- Melanie Phelps, left, Don Sutton, Joanne and Ed Dodds
- Karla and Scott Brown
- Marty and Gene Wilcoxson, left, with Nancy Gordon
- Johhny Ray and Diane Hochevar, left, with Joe Welte (board) and Linda Welte
- PEDCO President Jack Rink, left, CSU-Pueblo President Lesley DiMare and PEDCO Board Chair Steve Wright
- Dan and Kerri De Rose
- Chris and Jordan Penman
- Arnold and Patty VanZandt
- Marty Wilcoxson chats with Larry Simons
- Patty and Ray Erjavec
- Shirley and Dick Cline (past Hall of Fame inductee)
- Board member Carla Barela, left, and Lisa Jagger
- Paul Jones, left, with Linda and Ray Kogovsek (past Hall of Fame inductee)
- State Representative Leroy Garcia and his wife Michelle
- Pueblo Chieftain’s Jane Rawlings chats with Ray Kogovsek
- Tracey Mattoon-Amos served as emcee
- Jane Rawlings, representing her father Bob Rawlings, Hall of Fame inductee in 1999
- Past inductees stand to be recognized
- Emilie Forward delivers the invocation
- Carolyn Newman, left, and Gretchen Orr, publisher of the Huerfano World Journal
- Wynona Sullivan, center, congratulates Art and Lorraine Gonzales
- Sunny Schmitt, PCC’s Chief Academic Officer, with her husband Dave Ruffley
- Olive and Carlos Baca (board)
- President of the Foundation board Sharon Swerdfeger and Keith Swerdfeger
- Student Scholar Juanita Munoz, right, with her mom Benita Padilla, who always told Juanita “you can accomplish whatever you want to.”
- Rochelle and CSU Football Coach John Wristen, left, with Rep. Leroy and Michelle Garcia
- Maggie Divelbiss, left, Julie Faletta and board member Tammy Fesmire
- Barbara Fortino and Martha Simmons unveil the Wall of Fame
- Legacy Sponsor Barbara Fortino and Martha Simmons, Foundation executive director
- Patty Erjavec on stage, reflecting on the evening’s festivities
- Foundation President Sharon Swerdfeger greets the audience
- Sharon Swerdfeger says a few words about the Foundation’s mission
- Student Scholar Juanita Munoz
- City Councilman Ed Brown reads proclamations making March 7 “Art and Lorraine Gonzales and Jim and Paulette Stuart Day” in Pueblo
- Jim and Paulette Stuart with the proclamation from City Council
- Pueblo attorney Don Banner greets the audience
- Don Banner introducing Art & Lorraine Gonzales
- 2014 Hall of Fame honorees Art and Lorraine Gonzales, Patty Erjavec and Don Banner on stage
- Honorees Art & Lorraine Gonzales
- Art and Lorraine Gonzales and Patty Erjavec on stage
- Pueblo District Attorney Jeff Chostner on stage
- Jeff Chostner introducing honorees Jim and Paulette Stuart
- Honorees Art and Lorraine Gonzales with their award
- Honorees Jim and Paulette Stuart on stage
- Jim and Paulette Stuart in a reflective moment
- Paulette Stuart says a few words as Jim Stuart looks on
- Honorees Paulette and Jim Stuart on stage with Patty Erjavec and Jeff Chostner
- Paulette Stuart is congratulated as she leaves the stage
- Art Gonzales, ever the supporter of so many programs in Pueblo, has a few words to add about supporting the Symphony.
- Honorees Jim and Paulette Stuart with their award