Joe Rossi Hall of Fame

2007 Hall of Fame Inductee Richard 'Dick' L. Fanning – Colorado Springs Dick has kept very busy throughout his life. He taught for 32 years, 30 for the Air Academy School District. He coached high school baseball for 16 years as a head coach, and 9 years as an assistant or volunteer coach. Dick has won over 800 games between high school, Legion A, Connie Mack and Babe Ruth baseball games. In 1982, Dick coached for The National Sports Festival, West Team in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was also a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1993 until 1999. On a light note, Dick unofficially took the first Colorado high school baseball team to Arizona to practice during spring break. He said he "took some heat for that." Dick was a member of the Colorado Springs Umpire Association from 1968 until 1975 and a 25-year member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. He served as District Chairman for 6 years on the High School Committee of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the National High School Committee of the American Baseball Coaches Association, All American Committee. Dick has many accomplishments and honors. He was Colorado Springs Baseball Coach of the Year 1980, 1984 and 1989. He was Colorado Baseball Coach of the Year 1989 and voted the District 6 Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1989. His team won the State Baseball Championship that year as well. Dick was selected as Mr. Baseball 1992 by the Colorado High School Baseball Coaches Association. He was twice voted Volunteer Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association for his volunteer efforts coaching his high school team in the summer. Dick's contributions are also many. He was vice-president of the Colorado H.S. Baseball Coaches Association in 1983 and then President of the association in 1984. He served on the Colorado H.S. Activities Association Baseball Committee in 1983-84. He spoke on two occasions at the Colorado H.S. Baseball Coaches Clinic and written three articles on baseball for the Colorado H.S. Coaches Association. Dick served four years on the committee to select the Top 40 Seniors to play in the Senior All Star Game held annually at Coors Field. Dick attended Shawnee Mission North High School in Shawnee Mission Kansas and graduated in 1959. He played baseball at Kansas University from 1962-64 where he also earned his B.S. Dick eventually went to Adams State in Alamosa, Colorado and earned his Master’s in 1983. He also spent 3 years in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant to the Captain. Dick and wife Susan for 39 years now and they have two children.