(PUEBLO, Colo.) — Pueblo School District 60 dedicated a high school gym to a past principal on Thursday, Sept. 5.

District 60 dedicated the Centennial High School gym to Frank C. Latino, a longtime principal and one-time member of the District 60 Board of Education.

Latino was hired as a teacher at Centennial in 1971, after a student-teaching experience at the school. Overall, he served 35 years at the school as a teacher, coach, student government sponsor, assistant principal, and principal.

Latino passed away in 2022. However, his family was present at the dedication ceremony on Thursday.

“I am thrilled as is my whole family that I know that my husband would have said that it wasn’t him, it was his entire staff, his students that he came in contact with, and the school that he learned to love immensely,” said Carol Latino, Frank’s wife. “35 years is a lot of years to give to something but he never thought of it as a job, he always thought of it as his calling and he loved every minute of it.”

Latino retired in 2005. During his retirement, Latino continued to serve the community and ran for a seat on the District 60 School Board, where he served as a member and vice president for a four-year period. He also worked as a youth and career fair coordinator at Pueblo County Job Training for 19 years.