With more than a quarter of a century of outstanding athletic tradition, Gulliver Schools will establish an athletic hall of fame to recognize and honor coaches, student athletes, administrators and friends of the athletic program.
The inaugural installation dinner will take place on Friday, Oct. 29, at the Preparatory School gymnasium, 6575 N. Kendall Drive. Dinner and program will begin at 7:30 p.m. following a cocktail reception. Cost per person is $50 and proceeds will fund the program. Inductees will include Gulliver founders Marian Krutulis and her husband, Joseph, as well as Jan Gomez, Chuck Tobey and James Williams.
“These inductees have made significant contributions to the advancement of athletics at Gulliver while demonstrating a high degree of sportsmanship, leadership and character,” said head of school John Krutulis. “It is with great pride that we establish the Gulliver Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize these outstanding individuals.”
Behind every great institution is a great leader and throughout the 50-year history of Gulliver Schools, that leader has been Marian Krutulis. With a genuine love for children, Mrs. Krutulis has worked tirelessly to ensure that Gulliver’s students achieve their full potential, both academically and athletically. Among her many achievements was serving as one of the first female board members of the Florida High School Athletic Association and, in 2004, she was inducted into that organization’s Hall of Fame.
Joseph Krutulis was the embodiment of everything a coach should be as a mentor and role model for countless young athletes who came into contact with him. Serving as Gulliver’s first athletic coordinator, Coach Krutulis was instrumental in developing successful athletic programs at the school. In 1996, he was inducted into the Coral Gables Senior High School Hall of Fame where he was a football and baseball coach for many years.
For 27 years, Coach Jan Gomez served as volleyball and basketball coach at Gulliver and was also department chair for physical education. In 2006, she received the Miami Herald’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
From 1971 through 2007, Coach Chuck Tobey served as athletic director at the Preparatory School. Under his leadership, Gulliver won 26 state championships in 10 different sports, as well as many regional and district championships.
The longest serving headmaster of Gulliver Schools (1976-1995), James Williams was responsible for expanding the Preparatory School from 131 students to 650 students; and as the student body grew, so did the athletic program. Under his leadership, Gulliver Preparatory School was recognized as a U. S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
For more information about the event or to make reservations, visit www.gulliverschools. org
