When you see a young man stand up when a lady leaves the table, pick up the correct fork, address a gentleman as “sir” or dance the foxtrot at a wedding, thank Jon D. Williams. Born in 1913, he died June 12. A memorial service was held Wednesday in Colorado Springs.
Williams and his wife, Vivian, who died in 2002, started Jon D. Williams Cotillions in Colorado Springs in 1949. Since then, they and their son, Jon D. Williams III, and his wife, Moira, have taught tens of thousands of children how to dance and behave. The Cotillions proudly taught “self-assurance, civility, politeness, good sense” in more than 50 gatherings across the United States. There are Cotillions in 12 cities in Colorado alone. Williams even taught an etiquette class for years to cadets at the Air Force Academy.
I last saw Williams at the Broadmoor two years ago. At 90, he was teaching guests to dance on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Still hoofing after all those years.
To you, sir, we offer a polite farewell.
Reality check
Albin and Melanie Ulle left Denver at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday to start shooting “1000 Places to See Before You Die” for the Travel Channel. The Denver couple stars in the new series, based on the book of the same name. They’ll be back in a week from South America, then they take off Sept. 1 for 13 weeks, traveling the world over. We’ll be talking to them about this extra-cool gig.
Also, on the new NBC show “Treasure Hunters,” a brother-sister combo from Highlands Ranch are on Team Air Force: Matt and Brooke Rillos, both 28. Matt won the Denver Post’s Golden Helmet Award in 1995. They’re up against nine other teams, including Team Miss USA! A double edition of “Treasure Hunters” airs at 7 p.m. Monday on KUSA-Ch. 9.
Read all about it
Crested Butte hosts this weekend’s Readers in the Rockies, a celebration of reading and writing. Among this year’s participants: Sandra Cortner, a CB local since 1968, who’s written “Created Butte Stories… Through My Lens.” If you love the Butte, you gotta get this book. Call Cortner at 970-641-1654. Also at the read-in is David Morrell, author of the Rambo novel “First Blood.” He’s also in the middle of the Dan Brown “Da Vinci Code” plagiarism brouhaha as reported in this month’s Vanity Fair. Check out the website readersintherockies.com.
City spirit
The Pam Saunders Charity Golf Tourney is Monday at Inverness, not Sunday as I wrote here. Call 303-762-1414 for info … John Elway was expected at Elway’s last night to see the Railbenders … Head to The Denver Post site getrealdenver
.com for the latest on the “The Real World” kids. Seems four cast members went drinking big at J.R.’s on Saturday. And the gang will be working with Outward Bound this summer as “intern guides” … “American Idol’s” Ace Young was introduced on stage by promoter Chuck Morris at the Huey Lewis & Chicago concert Tuesday at Red Rocks. Lewis played golf Wednesday at Castle Pines … Sez who: “I should never have switched from Scotch to martinis.” Humphrey Bogart
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
