John Corbett is considered by many the founding father of Wyoming athletics. Corbett, an All-American football player at Harvard, established the University of Wyoming physical education curriculum and served as Wyoming’s head football and basketball coach. During his outstanding career at UW, Corbett is credited with building Wyoming’s first athletics facilities, Half Acre Gym, and the football field, which bared his name until War Memorial Stadium was constructed in 1950. Corbett was instrumental in high school physical education and started the state high school basketball tournament, which was hosted by the university. UW’s physical education complex, including the intercollegiate swimming pool, was named in his honor.
Inducted September 15, 1995
Jack Aggers, a 1950 graduate of the University of Wyoming and native of Thermopolis, served his alma mater for 26 years as the head athletic trainer. Aggers spent eight successful years as a high school basketball coach in Cody and Worland, posting a record of 106-93, before returning to UW in 1958. During his tenure, Aggers worked for seven different head football coaches through four different decades. During his career, Aggers served as a guest trainer for the Canadian Football League, the host trainer for the 1965 NCAA Wrestling Championships, and the trainer for the 1979 U.S. Olympic Basketball Development team that toured Europe. In 1983, Aggers was Inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame. Aggers retired from the University of Wyoming in 1984. Aggers was given the prestigious White Hat Award by the Cowboy Joe Club.
Inducted September 15, 1995
Honors and Awards
- National Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame
- White Hat Award Winner
- U.S. Olympic Basketball Team Trainer
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Listen to audio interviews with Larry Birleffi by the Wyoming State Archives.
Larry Birleffi, a 1942 graduate of the University of Wyoming and native of Hartville, became the “Voice of the Cowboys” in 1947 and continued broadcasting Cowboy games for nearly 40 years. Birleffi’s journalism career began in 1937 when he was writing for UW’s campus newspaper, The Branding Iron. He began as a newspaper journalist and columnist, something he continues to this day at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle in Cheyenne. He began his broadcasting career in 1947 at station KFBC in Cheyenne. He later owned that station and the rights to the Wyoming football and basketball broadcasts. He broadcasts every Wyoming football and basketball game form 1947 through 1986. The War Memorial Stadium Working Press Area was named in his honor in 1992.
Inducted October 18, 1996
Honors and Awards
- Sportscaster of the Year
- Sportswriter of the Year
- Cowboy Joe White Hat Award
- Press Area named in his honor
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Football
As the only undefeated major college team in the nation in 1967 at 10-0, the Wyoming Cowboy football team was invited to participate in the 1968 Sugar Bowl, against Louisiana State in New Orleans, La. After winning their second straight Western Athletic Conference Championship, and four previous bowl victories, the Cowboys of 1967 were on the threshold of greatness. Led by captains Mike Dirks and Jim Kiick, Wyoming would outscore its opponents 276-99 during the 1967 season. On New Year’s Day, 1968, Wyoming would take a commanding 13-0 lead into halftime of the Sugar Bowl, and make their claim as one of the premier college programs in the country. Unfortunately for Cowboy fans, LSU would outscore Wyoming 20-0 in the second half to win 20-13, and hand the Pokes their only loss of the season. In that illustrious season, the 1967 Sugar Bowl Team would climb through the rankings all season before peaking at No. Five. That No. Five ranking is still the highest any Cowboy Football Team has ever been ranked.
Inducted September 19, 1997
