2018 RMAC Hall of Fame Inductees Part 1 of 3
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) is proud to announce the RMAC Hall of Fame Inductees, Class of 2018.
Over a three-day period, six individuals and one team will be released for this year's induction class.
Today, the RMAC announces two accomplished individuals who excelled as a student-athlete and head coach during their time in the RMAC.
Olin Hatfield Chilson (Posthumous)
University of Colorado (1923-1926)
Football, Basketball, Baseball
Chilson, a Pueblo, Colorado native, was an All-RMAC selection and team captain in three sports, football, basketball, and baseball. He earned 11 letters during his time at University of Colorado (CU), playing football for three years, and basketball and baseball for four years.
In football, he was a dynamic quarterback, tailback, and field general under Coach Myron Witham and was a part of the "Wonder Team" back in 1924. That same year, the Buffs won back-to-back (1923 and 1924) RMAC Championship titles with a 7-0-1 record. The team posted a 23-4-1 record during his time on the team. Chilson had a unique playing style, being credited as one of the nation's first jump passers, which earned him national recognition. His accolades also include earning Second Team All-Western recognition and honorable mention All-American.
Chilson graduated from Univ. of Colorado's School of Law in 1927 and practiced law in Greeley and Loveland. He went on to serve as the Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior in the 1950's. In 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Chilson as the U.S. District Judge for Colorado. The Senate confirmed his seat that next month and he began his duties four days later. He served in this position for 26 years.
Chilson passed away at the age of 87. In 1985, Chilson was recognized for his achievements as he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He was also named to the University of Colorado "All-Century" Football Team in 1989. In honor of Chilson, the Recreation Center in Loveland was named after him.
Dick "Drag" Drangmeister (Posthumous)
Western New Mexico University (1969-82 and 1992-1995), Southern Colorado (1984-1987) Adams State College (1987-1991)
Men's Basketball Coach
Drangmeister had a long, historic career in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In 1961, he graduated from Western New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and in 1962 with a Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling. Afterwards, he spent 21 years as a head men's basketball coach at three RMAC institutions, Western New Mexico, Southern Colorado (known today as CSU-Pueblo), and Adams State College (known today as Adams State University) and compiled a 365-233 record.
From 1969 to 1982, Drangmeister served as the head coach at Western New Mexico and won a total of five RMAC Men's Basketball Championship titles ('75, '79, '80, '81, '82) and garnered two NAIA District 7 titles. He made two NAIA National Men's Basketball Tournament appearances and was a five-time NAIA District 7 Coach of the Year at WNMU.
Then in 1984, he coached at Southern Colorado, where he won his third NAIA District 7 Championship and his sixth Coach of the Year Honor. He stayed in Pueblo until 1987 and then moved to Alamosa to coach at Adams State from 1987 to 1991. Drangmeister would tally his sixth combined RMAC title in 1991.
In 1992, he returned to Western New Mexico as the men's head basketball coach and Director of Athletics. He coached the Mustangs until 1995 and during his two stints at Western New Mexico, he went 272-152 overall. In 1997, Drangmeister retired as Director of Athletics and was inducted into the WNMU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Drangmeister passed away July 2005 after a long battle with cancer. In December 2005, Western New Mexico named the court that the volleyball and basketball teams play on, "Drag's Court" in honor of his accomplishments.
The 2018 RMAC Hall of Fame Banquet and Awards Ceremony will take place at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel on Friday, July 13.