Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame explained

See also: List of African American pioneers of Colorado. Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame is a collaboration between Denver Public Library and Denver Public Schools to honor African American Coloradans who were the first in their field to accomplish a professional goal and/or who have actively supported the African American community while achieving their goal.

The original series contained forty-one photographs and was created in 1973 as part of a cooperative venture for Black Awareness Month between the Denver Public Library and the Denver Public Schools. In 1985, as part of the Ford-Warren Branch Library’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, an additional four black Coloradoans were inducted into this Hall of Fame. Since then, every other year at least one is entered into the Hall of Fame Series.

Inductees

Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame
NameImageBirth–Death<--Leave parentheses/brackets in place per MOS:BLPLEAD-->YearArea of achievement
Walker Anderson(1866-1904)1973Construction Man
Honorable Karen Ashby2016Colorado Court of Appeals
James A. Atkins(1890-1968)1973Teacher
Ulysses H. Baker(1869-1933)1973Police Detective
Odell C. Barry2006Politician and businessman
Jim Beckwourth(1798-1866)1973Scout and trapper
Jerome C. Biffle(1928-2002)1973Athlete and high school counselor
Jack Bradley1973Musician
Moses Brewer2012Multicultural relations/marketing
"Aunt" Clara Brown(1800-1882)1973Freed slave-philanthropist
George L. Brown(1926-2006)1973Lieutenant governor of Colorado
Victoria "Vikki" Denise Buckley(1949-1999)2000Colorado Secretary of State
Denise BurgessN.d.First African-American to chair the Denver Metro Chamber of Congress
Charles Burrell(1920-)N.D.Musician
Byron Caldwell(1926-2004)1973Civic Worker
Elvin R. Caldwell(1919-2004)1973Denver city councilman
Thomas Campbell, LLD(1869-19571973Attorney
Terrance D. Carroll(1969-)2010Speaker of the House, CO House of Representatives
Alta Cousins(1884-1971)1973
Charles Lilburn Cousins[1] (1881-1962)1973
Lulu Craig(1867-1971)1973Teacher
Major Oleta Lawanda Crain(1913-2007)1996WAAC/USAF - First African-American servicewoman from Colorado
Gilbert Cruter(1915-2005)1973First African-American educator for Denver Public Schools
Honorable Wiley Y. Daniel(1946-2019)2012Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
Hiawatha Davis Jr.(1944-2000)1998Denver city councilman
Evie Dennis(1924-)1990First African-American and first woman superintendent of Denver Public Schools
Ruth Denny[2] (1920-2012)2014Educator and civil rights activist
Elva J. Dulan(1914-2000)1973Public Health
Honorable James C. Flanigan(1915-2008)1973Colorado's first African-American judge
Barney Ford(1822-1902)1973Businessman
Justina Ford(1871-1952)1973Colorado's first African-American woman physician
Eugene Gash(1921-1995)1973Concert pianist
James C. Gaskin(1916-2009)1973First African-American director, Veteran's administration hospital, Denver 1971-78
Bernard F. Gipson, M.D.1973Physician
Juanita Gray(1916-1987)1988Civic leader
Zipporah Parks Hammond(1924-2011)2022First African-American to graduate from nursing program in Colorado
Clarence F. Holmes, D.D.S.(1892-1978)1973Dentist/Human rights and relations
Gary M. Jackson2022
Oliver Toussaint Jackson(1862-1946)1973Pioneer
Ledyard C. Jones1973Bookkeeper and auditor
Honorable Raymond Dean Jones1990Colorado's first African-American appellate judge
Honorable Claudia J. Jordan1996Colorado's first African-American woman county court judge
Chief Roderick Juniel2020Construction Man
Reverend Leon Kelly2022
Oglesvie L. "Sonny" Lawson(1893-1969)1973Pharmacist/First African-American serving Denver Public Library Commission
Wendell T. Liggins (1914-1991)1985Minister - Zion Baptist Church, Denver Public Library Commission member
Earl Mann(1886-1969)1973Legislator/Writer, CO House of Representatives 1944-53
Keith "KC" Matthews2000Engineer- Colorado Department of Transportation
Jessie Whaley Maxwell(1909-2002)1998Educator - Colorado and Denver's first African-American principal
Thomas E. McClain, D.D.S.(1876-1949)1973First African-American licensed dentist in Colorado
Irene McWilliams1973Musician, teacher, and churchwoman
Ronald "Ron" Glen Miles(1963-2022)2023Grammy-nominated jazz musician and composer[3]
Syl Morgan-Smith2002Communicator and community leader
George Morrison, Sr.(1891-1974)1973Musician/composer
(1921-2015)1973USAAC/USAF Ret., Administrator/civic leader
Rachel B. Noel(1918-2008)1973Assistant professor of sociology
Sebastian Cabot Owens(1913-1975)1973Director Colorado Urban League
Jacqueline G. Peterson-Hall2000Real estate developer
Harry E. Rahming1973Episcopal priest and theologian
"Daddy Bruce" Randolph(1900-1994)1985Businessman and philanthropist
Alphonse D. Robinson2004Musician/composer
Cleo Parker Robinson1994Artistic director/ambassador
Pauline Short Robinson(1915-1997)1973Librarian and civic leader
Dr. Jennie Mae Rucker(1922-2018)2019
Edward J. Sanderlin(1824-1891)1973Businessman
Gregory K. Scott(1948-2021)1994Colorado's first African-American Supreme Court judge
Paul Wilbert Stewart(1925-2015)1973Museum curator
Arie Parks Taylor(1927-2003)2004Politician, businesswoman, state representative in Colorado House of Representatives
Landri Taylor2008Civic leader, community affairs
William L. Turner(1894-1971)1973Realtor
Peggy Underwood1973Secretary
Lu Vason2010Founder/Director Bill Pickett Rodeo
Columbus "Chris" Veasy, Jr., Ph.D.1998Chairman, Denver County Democratic Party 1991
James "Dr. Daddio" Walker2008Black radio pioneer
James David Ward1985Educator
Wellington E. Webb(1941-)1988Mayor, city of Denver
Wilma Webb1985First lady of Denver, Colorado State representative
Elbra Wedgeworth2014City council president, Chief government and community relations officer
Joseph H.P. Westbrooke1973Physician, civic leader
Cecilia Kay White1973
Murphy C. Williams1973Pastor, businessman
Edna Wilson-Mosley(1925-2014)1992First African-American city councilwoman, Aurora, CO
Adrian Miller2024Community leader and culinary historian
Retired Division Chief Charles Thomas Smith2024Denver police
William H. Whitsell (1866-1944)2024First African-American male born in Colorado

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charles L. And Charles R. Cousins.
  2. Web site: Denver civil rights activist Ruth Denny remembered. 10 October 2012.
  3. Web site: Hadiya . Congratulations to the Nominees of the 2023 Juanita Gray Community Service Award . Denver Public Library.