If there ever was a man who best personifies athletics in the state of Colorado, Walter F. “Bus” Bergman is that individual. Bergman is truly Colorado.
Bergman reflects the ideals of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame with tremendous individual athletic accomplishments both as a player and as coach, as well as integrity and style.
Bergman starred at Denver North High School where he played on a state football championship team in 1938 and was selected to the all-state team. He then moved on to Colorado A&M College, now Colorado State University, where he earned 10 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was football co-captain and president of the student body in 1941.
Bergman earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1942 and was awarded the first Masters Degree in Physical Education from Colorado A&M in 1947. He was offered a professional football contract by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1942, but declined to join the U.S. Marines where he was awarded the Bronze Star in Okinawa.
Bergman then began a stellar coaching career in football and baseball, starting at Fort Lewis College in Durango and then Mesa State College in Grand Junction.
At Mesa, he posted a 102-63-9 record in football and won three conference titles. His baseball teams won 20 conference titles and finished second three times in the National Junior College Baseball World Series. His overall baseball record was 378-201.
Bergman was a key figure in bringing the JUCO to Grand Junction, where it has stayed since 1960.
He also was a Philadelphia Phillies scout and coached the Grand Junction Eagles semi-pro baseball team during the summers and finished with a 260-83 record.
