In Memoriam: B. Hosfeldt, L. Menges, G. Erich

    They cheered and cheered often and long for the Spartans. Three true friends of the San Jose State University athletics program passed away in recent weeks.

Bob Marshall Hosfeldt, broadcasting pioneer and former president of the Spartan Foundation; Leona Menges, wife of former San Jose State baseball coach Gene Menges; and Gerald Edward Erich, long-time publisher of Spartan athletics printed materials, each supported the Spartans and the university from their days as college students and continuously throughout their adult lives. 

Bob Marshall Hosfeldt (1933-2008)

Born on April 23, 1933, Mr. Hosfeldt graduated from San Jose State in 1959 majoring in radio and television. He earned a master’s degree in communications from his alma mater in 1961 and a M.B.A. from Pepperdine College in 1968.

After college, Mr. Hosfeldt worked for KNTV in San Jose, then an ABC-TV affiliate, in a variety of roles before accepting the position of chief executive officer of Gill Cable in 1978. Single-handedly, he provided a play-by-play television outlet locally for San Jose State sports with Pat Hughes, now the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs, and former athletics director Bob Murphy calling the action.

Mr. Hosfeldt was one of the prime movers in the Spartan Stadium expansion project of the 1970’s. Private boxes, a new press box and an upper deck were added and capacity increased to 22,000 by the end of the 1980 season.

“Back in those days, the Spartan Foundation was very involved in keeping the athletics department going through fund raising efforts and had a strong influence on who was hired in the department. I am very certain Bob was involved in getting (football coach) Darryl Rogers here,” commented Steve Gossett, another Spartan Foundation past president.

Mr. Hosfeldt was a past president of the Spartan Foundation and the San Jose State Alumni Association. He also was a member of the singing group, The Spartoons, an octet that once performed at Carnegie Hall and sang the national anthem at Spartan football games.

Mr. Hosfeldt passed away at age 75 on December 16, 2008.

Leona Menges (1927-2008)

Born on October 14, 1927 in Anaheim, Calif., Mrs. Menges attended the University of Southern California. She moved to San Jose in 1948 with her husband, Gene Menges, who became San Jose State’s star quarterback during the 1948 through 1950 seasons.

While her husband entered the college coaching profession, she raised three children and stayed active playing golf and tennis. In the community, Mrs. Menges was a hospital volunteer and an informational specialist at Mineta San Jose Airport to first-time visitors. For more than 50 years, she could be seen at San Jose State athletics events, particularly those in Spartan Stadium, Municipal Stadium and Blethen Field for baseball, the Civic Auditorium and The Event Center for basketball, and the Spartan Courts for tennis.

“I’ve known Leona since 1976. She has been one of the most ardent, loyal and enthusiastic supporters of San Jose State athletics. She loved all the sports and took great interest in them. She supported her husband’s career through thick and thin. Even after Gene retired (in 1986), she still supported San Jose State with great loyalty,” said current San Jose State baseball coach Sam Piraro.

Mrs. Menges passed away at age 81 on December 29, 2008.