Jim graduated from South in 1971, received his undergraduate from the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo) and has Master's Degrees from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in Public Administration and from the University of Colorado, Denver in Criminal Justice and has been the Chief of Police in Pueblo since 1998

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and is the Colorado representative as part of the United States delegation to the International Association of the Chiefs of Police (IACP).

Jim serves on the mountain states region of the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Committee of the IACP

He is the recipient of the Robert Hawkins Award from the Mental Health Association of Pueblo, is Past President of the Rotary club and has served on many non profit boards including the YMCA and the United Way and has volunteered and served in many capacities with the Boy Scouts

He has been married to June for 35 years.

Patrick S. Mara

Pat graduated in 1966 and went on to receive his bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics from Colorado State University in Fort Collins and has taught for nearly 40 years, the past nearly quarter of a century at South.

Pat is a true teacher having authored and co authored many textbooks in mathematics and has hosted KTSC televisions' Homework Hotline and serves as a TV tutor for kids struggling with homework.  Pat even takes calls at home from students needing help.

He's helped design curriculum and teacher education programs and he's traveled to Japan to see how those youngsters learn math.  He also has spent a summer as a fellowship student at Priceton University.

A noted master teacher, Mara has received the:

·          Raytheon Corp Math Hero Award in 2008

·         International Academy of Science Mathematics Teacher of the Year in 2001;

·         Colorado Math Teacher Award of Excellence, 1997

·         President’s Award for Excellence in Science Mathematics Teaching in 1989.

·         Pat was recently chosen by Pueblo Chieftain as the "Best Teacher in Pueblo".                          

Pat has been married to Sally Ann also a 1966 graduate of South for 40 years.

Steven C. Moore

Steve is a 1971 graduate and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Colorado in 1975 and 1979.  Upon graduation from law school, he accepted a Vista Volunteer position representing Indian tribes and individual Indian people in northern Idaho, working for Idaho Legal Services.  In 1981 he began working for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana. In 1983, he returned to Boulder and joined the Native American Rights Fund, the largest and oldest non-profit law firm in the United States representing Indian tribes. 

At the Native American Rights Fund, where he is senior staff attorney, much of his practice has focused on natural resource issues.  Steve has represented Indian tribes in complex litigation involving oil and gas royalties, treaty fishing rights, and federal Indian reserved water rights.  His other work includes the protection of sacred lands, the repatriation of human remains and the protection of unmarked Native graves, the religious use of peyote by members of the Native American Church, and the religious rights of Native prisoners. He is admitted to practice law in several federal and state courts, federal courts of appeals, the United States Tax Court and the United States Supreme Court.

His volunteer work includes service as a member of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, the Advisory Committee to the Indian Law Clinic at the University of Colorado Law School, and the Steering Committee of the National Association of Indian Legal Services.

He is married to Martha Griffin, and has three children, Lindsay, Andrew and Rio Moore.

Daniel J. Predovich

Graduated in 1965 and received his B.S.  from the University of Colorado.  He is Certified Public Accountant,  a Certified Fraud Examiner,  is Certified in Financial Forensics and is president of  Predovich and Company.   He is Past President of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Early in his career he worked for the Colorado State Attorney General as Senior Criminal Investigator, as field agent for the Colorado Bureau of investigation and a senior investigator for the Denver district attorney.

Dan is a lecturer and instructor to business groups, professional organizations and law enforcement agencies regarding a variety of topics including accounting, taxation, litigation support services and fraud investigations.  He currently serves of the board and chairs the audit committee of RE/MAX International and is the co-founder of the Colorado Law Enforcement Instructor's Association where he is a member of the board and serves as treasurer.

Dan is past president of the PorterCare Foundation and has been a member of the board of the Children's Advocacy and Family Resources Foundation.  He has also been a member of the board of directors of the Webb-Waring Foundation.  In addition he has served as training coordinator and secretary for the Colorado Attorney Council Investigator's Association.

Marcia Stjernholm Smith

Marcia Graduated in 1963 and was Valedictorian of her class.  She founded a company now known as Evercare and served as President and Chief Executive Officer.  Evercare is a company that coordinates, provides, and pays for medical care for those living in nursing homes, those living in the community who have special health care needs because of chronic disease, and/or those who have advanced illness or disability.  These are mostly frail elderly.  Evercare started out as a demonstration project for the federal government.   It proved so successful that legislation was enacted to make it a permanent part of Medicare.

The National Health Service (NHS) of England heard about Evercare and engaged a team, with Marcia as it's leader to embed the Evercare model of care in nine communities in England.  The hospitals in England have no available beds and long waits for care, so they wanted to use the model to reduce hospital admissions.  The end result was the creation of a new and advanced grade-level position for nurses in England – their job is to care for high-risk populations.

Marcia started working outside the home at age 40 with a Peak Health in Denver/Colorado Springs/Pueblo  and became the executive director of that organization.  Marcia has always been active in her church, directing the choir, coordinating worship and teaching Sunday School.  While moving ten times during her husband's military career Marcia was active in community and  military base charitable endeavors.

Marcia is the mother of three grown children and the grandmother of 12.

Frances Marie Vallejo

Fran was CO-valedictorian of her class in 1983 and was a Boettcher Scholarship recipient to the Colorado School of Mines.  Her entire professional career has been with Phillips Petroleum, subsequently ConocoPhillps in Houston, TX.  She is currently Vice-president and Treasurer of ConocoPhillips.

Fran majored in engineering mathematics, with an emphasis  in geophysics, while at the Colorado School of Mines.  As a senior at Mines, Fran was designated as “E-Day outstanding senior in mathematics and outstanding graduate of the McBride Honors Program.

Fran took a leave of absences from Phillips Petroleum to pursue a master’s degree in business administration at Rice University, where she was recognized as the outstanding woman candidate for her MBA class of 1996.  She was a member of the corporate team that brought about the merger of Phillips Petroleum and Conoco Petroleum.  In addition, Fran was a member of the corporate team that brought about the partnership of ConocoPhillips with the second largest Russian oil conglomerate, Lukoil

While at South  Fran was active in student government, was a member of South’s concert choir, and was president of the National Honor Society.  Since then, Fran has exhibited leaderships skills learned at South High and at the Colorado School of Mines by being involved in community activities through her children's schools, church, and Phillips 66 Federal Credit Union, where she serve as chairperson of the board for many years and continues to serve as a director.  She also is a graduate of the Center for Houston’s Future Leadership Forum.  In 2004, the Pueblo School District No 60  Education Foundation recognized Fran as an outstanding District 60 graduate.

She diligently worked to acquire ConocoPhillips support (financially and physically) for the Rice University's Money and Business 10'l class which takes the best applicants from 10 different underprivileged Houston independent High Schools which educates them in analyzing stocks and other financial skills, ConocoPhillips gives a day-long tour educating the students in the business of energy, all the different careers involved in running a large company like COP and the kind of an education you would need for these careers. She's also involved with Rice University's Elementary Model Science Lab.

Recently Fran was named Outstanding Female Executive of the year by the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Kenneth W. West

Ken graduated from South in 1968, attended SCSC for two years and transferred to CSU Ft. Collins and graduated with a degree in Construction Management in 1972.  Ken returned to Pueblo and went to work for the Transportation Test Facility where he worked until he went to work for H. W. Houston Construction in 1977.  He bought out the company in 1992.  He has been associated with H.W. Houston for 32 years.

H.W. Houston Construction Co. built the Pueblo City County Library, The new Pueblo YMCA, the forensic unit at the CHMIP, and the bed tower expansion at St. Mary Corwin Hospital and has been selected as contractor for the new County Judicial Plaza.  H.W. Houston constructs commercially throughout Colorado. Currently they are involved in over $130 million in construction projects.

Ken has served on many community boards including the:

·         YMCA for over 20 years and is a past president

·         HARP Foundation, and is a past president

·         Southern Colorado Community Foundation

·         Mahlon Thatcher White Foundation

·         100 Club and is a past president