But Washington State University saw something they liked in the Los Gatos quarterback and gave him a chance in 1959. All he did was go on to break nearly every Cougar receiving record and win a place in the Washington State Hall of Fame.

Then it was the National Football League scouts who didn't think that Campbell could make the transition to the professional level. So he didn't get a shot in the pros, at least not until the Canadian Football League expressed an interest. The investment paid dividends as Campbell went on to an all-pro career in Canada.

And it all started at Los Gatos High School after the three-sport star had led the Wildcats to a football championship in the fall of 1958.

For his outstanding achievements while attending Los Gatos, Hugh Campbell will be among the first 14 athletes recognized with induction into the newly created Athletic Hall of Fame at the high school during ceremonies to be held May 1 at the La Rinconada Country Club.

Campbell played football, basketball and baseball at Los Gatos High in the late 1950s, but it was on the football field where he really shined. He was the quarterback of the 1958 team that won a league championship. He scored a touchdown for the Wildcats in a 14-0 Thanksgiving Day victory over Campbell that helped Los Gatos clinch the crown.

Despite his sensational high school career, he didn't get much attention from college recruiters after his graduation in 1959. But Washington State gave him a chance as a receiver, and Campbell went on to greatness with the Cougars.

Freshmen weren't eligible to play varsity at the collegiate level at the time, so Campbell only played three years for the Cougars. That was enough. He set receiving records that still stand today at Washington, where he earned the nickname "Gluey Hughy" because of his exceptional hands.

He was a three-time All-American, a three-time All-West Coast selection and was the Most Valuable Player in both the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game.

Campbell led the nation in receptions as a sophomore with 66 (third on the Washington all-time list) and he finished with 176 catches for 2,452 yards, both still school records. His credentials were impressive enough to lead to his later induction into the Washington State Hall of Fame.

But Campbell was cut by the San Francisco 49ers because they determined he was too slow to play in the NFL. The CFL, however, did not agree. Campbell went on to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a Grey Cup championship, winning All-Canadian and All-Western Conference honors. He set receiving records in Canada and led the CFL in scoring in 1966.

In all, Campbell spent 26 seasons in the CFL as a player, coach, general manager and president/CEO. He coached the Edmonton Eskimos to six straight Western Division championships, six straight Grey Cup appearances and five straight Grey Cup victories. He also did a stint in the NFL as the coach of the Houston Oilers for two seasons.

And it all started in Los Gatos when he led a Pete Denevi-coached high school football team to a league championship.

Los Gatos High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will on May 1 at the La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos. Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner are priced at $75, and those attending the dinner will have the opportunity to nominate former Los Gatos athletes for induction in 2005. For ticket information, call the Los Gatos Athletic Association at 408.395.2002, Doug Ramezane at 408.354.2730, ext. 213, or Mark Magagna at 408.354.2730, ext. 320.