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Also know as “Mastro” or “Joe the Toe,” Joe Mastrogiovanni would come to be one of the most memorable and flamboyant football players in Wyoming history. A two-way player, who came to Wyoming as a halfback, Mastrogiovanni would become Wyoming’s first throwing quarterback. Joe was in all aspects a leader on his teams, leading the Pokes in passing for three years, total offense and scoring for two years, and in punting and interceptions for one year each. Twice selected to the All-Skyline first-team and once a second-team selection, Mastrogiovanni led the nation in rushing the first eight weeks of the 1955 season, before finishing second nationally and earning honorable mention All-American honors from AP and UPI. The Cowboys were 19-11-1 from 1953-55, and in 1955 Joe led a talented Cowboy team to the Sun Bowl. Unfortunately, he was injured in the last regular-season game and could not play in the bowl game. A gifted athlete, Mastrogiovanni served at times as the Cowboys’ placekicker and was responsible for three game-winning field goals in the 1954 season. Joe also competed for the Wyoming swimming team and was a letterman on the 1955 Cowboy baseball team as a catcher. Inducted September 25, 1998 Honors and Awards
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Blog Archives
Eric C. Leckner
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Eric Leckner was one of the greatest and most beloved basketball players ever at the university of Wyoming. A four-year starter at center for the cowboys, Eric played on some of the most memorable Wyoming basketball teams in recent history. Leckner played a huge role on the Cowboys’ NIT runner-up team in 1986, as well as the 1987 and 1988 NCAA Tournament teams. A two-time, first-team all-WAC selection his junior and senior years, Eric led his teams to WAC Tournament titles in 1987 and 1988, the WAC regular season title in 1986, as well as the WAC Tournament runner-up position that year. He still holds the distinction of being the only three-time UW scoring list behind Fennis Dembo and Flynn Robinson, second in blocked shots behind Theo Ratliff and eighth on the all-time rebounding list. Following his career at Wyoming, Eric was drafted in the NBA through 1997, spending time with Sacramento, Charlotte, New York and Detroit. Inducted September 25, 1998 Honors and Awards
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Robert G. Jingling
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A classy, hard-hitting infielder, Bob Jingling is described by UW Hall of Fame Baseball Coach Bud Daniel as the most outstanding player on the field, in academic performance, and in personal conduct that he had the opportunity to coach . Jingling was a two-time All-Skyline player in history. He was selected at shortstop, the only two-time All-Skyline player in history. He was selected second-team All-American in 1954, first-team in the 1955 and was a member of the U.S. Baseball team in the 1955 Pan Am games. He was the first player in UW history to be named first-team All-American and only the second in Skyline Conference history. His four-year collegiate bating average was an impressive .371, and over the course of 118 games, Jingling clouted 16 home runs and 18 triples. His career fielding percentage was .907 with his best year coming as a senior when he fielded .934. He hit .413 as a senior and led the Pokes to two consecutive Skyline Conference titles. Jingling was also the recipient of the 1955 Admiral Land Award at UW. Upon leaving Wyoming, Jingling signed with the Detroit Tigers. Following a brief stint in the pros, Jingling returned to Wyoming to serve as an assistant coach and also spent one year as the Cowboys’ head coach in 1962. Inducted September 25, 1998 Honors and Awards
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Curt Gowdy
One of the most recognized names and voices in broadcasting history, Curt Gowdy has been one of his native state’s most vocal ambassadors. Before he began his broadcasting career, Gowdy played forward on the Wyoming basketball team from 1940-42, earning three varsity letters. He also lettered three times in tennis before graduating from UW in 1942. Gowdy began his career at radio station KFBC in Cheyenne and as a sportswriter for the Wyoming Eagle, then worked as a broadcaster in Oklahoma before joining the New York Yankees’ broadcast team. He later worked for ABC Sports, creating and hosting “The American Sportsman”, a weekly hunting and fishing show. He is a member of the American Sportscaster Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Sports Writers and Broadcasters Hall of Fame. As a broadcaster Gowdy has covered eight Super Bowls, 16 World Series, 12 Rose Bowls, eight Olympic Games and 22 NCAA Final Four Championships. Seven times Gowdy has been named the National Sportscaster of the Year. He has covered more major sporting events than any other broadcaster in history.
Inducted September 25, 1998
Honors and Awards
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Tony Windis
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Quiet, reserved basketball artist Tony Windis was one of the finest shooters ever to play at the University of Wyoming. Windis averaged 21.2 points per game for the cowboy career, ranking him second in UW history. He is ranked fifth in single-season scoring average with 24.4 points per game tallied during the 1958-59 season, his senior year. With a career total of 1,465 points, Windis was on Wyoming’s top ten career scoring list. He is ranked tenth in career field goals made (345), as well as in several single game categories, including second for points scored in a game with 50 vs. New Mexico on Jan. 10, 1958. Windis is also tied for second in field goals made (19) in that same game vs. New Mexico, and first in field goals attempted (38) vs. Montana on Feb. 5, 1959. He was all-conference for three years and was named Player of the Year in the Rockies for two consecutive years, 1958 and 1959. In 1977, after leaving the University of Wyoming, Windis became the first coach in all sports’ history to win both a boys’ and girls’ state basketball championship in the same year while coaching in Mountain View, Wyo.Inducted October 1, 1999 Honors and Awards
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Paul Toscano
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The first Cowboy quarterback in history to lead the nation in total offense, Paul Toscano was considered the University of Wyoming’s “storybook” player. Toscano earned his first two Cowboy letters as a defensive safety. When the quarterback situation was questionable in 1967, the coaching staff asked Toscano to step in. All “Pitchin’ Paul” did was lead the Cowboys to a 10-1 record, a WAC title, and a berth in Wyoming’s biggest bowl ever, the 1968 Sugar Bowl. Toscano ended the 1967 season as the greatest single season and single game passer in Cowboys’ history. He set or tied eleven passing records as he led the Pokes to their second straight WAC title and third undefeated season. He led the WAC in total offense and was second in passing. Nationally, Paul was sixth in passing. He was named Player of the Year in the WAC by United Press International, was a unanimous first team All-WAC selection, and finished in the balloting for the Heisman trophy.
Inducted October 1, 1999 Honors and Awards
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Galand Thaxton
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One of the greatest defensive players in the history of the University of Wyoming, Galand Thaxton is the Cowboys’ all-time leading tackler. With the strength to play on the inside and the quickness to play outside, Thaxton was the anchor of the Cowboy defense. As a redshirt freshman, he started every game at outside linebacker and was named the WAC Rookie of the Year. In 1986, his junior year, Thaxton was the only Cowboy named to the All-WAC First Team. In 1986 and 1987, he was voted defensive captain by his teammates, making him the only Wyoming player in history to be selected as captain twice. He also was selected as an Associated Press Third-Team All-American in 1987, as he helped lead the Cowboys to a WAC title and an appearance in the Holiday Bowl. When Thaxton left the University of Wyoming he had a record 467 career tackles, giving him a first place ranking in UW history.
Inducted October 1, 1999 Honors and Awards
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Paul Roach
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Paul Roach is the only man in the history of the University of Wyoming to serve in the dual capacity of athletics director and head football coach. As UW Athletics Director from 1987 through 1996, Roach guided the department through one of its most successful eras, and his vision established the dream of the Athletics Center. As head football coach, Roach led the Cowboys to back-to-back WAC championships in 1987 and 1988, going undefeated in league play both season. He earned WAC Coach of the Year honors in both 1987 and 1988, was named Kodak Region V Coach of the Year in 1987, and was a two-time finalist for National Coach of the Year. In his four-year tenure as Wyoming’s head coach, Roach guided the Cowboys to a 35-15-0 record and led them to three bowl games–Holiday bowl in 1987 and 1988 and the Copper Bowl in 1990. In addition to his experiences as head coach, he also served as an assistant coach at Wyoming from 1962 to 1970, under Lloyd Eaton. During that era, the Pokes won three WAC titles in 1966,1967 and 1968 and competed in two bowl games–the 1966 Sun Bowl and the 1968 Sugar Bowl. Therefore in his two coaching appearances at Wyoming, Roach was involved in six of Wyoming’s ten bowl appearances in the school’s history, and six of its seven WAC championships–three as assistant coach (1966,1967,1968), two as athletics director/head coach (1987,1988), and one as athletics director (1993).
Inducted October 1, 1999 Honors and Awards
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John Pilch
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John Pilch was considered one of the greatest “big men” in Wyoming athletics’ history and a part of the glory years of the Half-Acre Gym. Recognized as a power player, Pilch became one of the Cowboys’ most prolific rebounders of all time and his team’s leading scorer from 1947-50. In his best year, 1949-50, Pilch averaged 11.5 points per game. Selected as an All-American in 1950, Pilch won admiration throughout his career with his remarkable defensive work and famous hook shot. He was best known however for his rebounding abilities. In 1949, he was considered the best rebounder in the Rocky Mountain region, perhaps even the nation. His coach and fellow Hall of Famer, Ev Shelton believed Pilch was the greatest offensive and defensive rebounder he had ever seen. Inducted October 1, 1999 Honors and Awards
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Darcy Cudaback White
Darcy Cudaback made the transition from the rural farming community of Exeter, Neb., to the campus of the University of Wyoming, to become an All-American volleyball player and dominate the High Country Athletic Conference. In 1988, Cudaback was named the HCAC’s Offensive Player of the Year, was a member of the its All-American team, and was selected first-team All-HCAC. She led the 1989 team to its best season on record at 24-7 and winning the HCAC Championship with an 11-1 record. The team earned a berth in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament , Wyoming’s second appearance ever in post-season. In 1988, Cudaback set the Cowgirl record for kills in a season with 595, and still ranks first in UW history. She is also ranked second in career kills with 1,533 and second for the most games played in a career at 446.
Inducted October 1, 1999
Honors and Awards
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