PUEBLO, Colo.—Harold L. “Mack” McCormick, a Canon City theater owner who served 28 years in the General Assembly, has died. He was 90.
McCormick died of pneumonia at his Canon City home on Saturday, The Pueblo Chieftain reported.
A Republican, McCormick advocated improved water monitoring of state rivers, better prisons, transforming Southern Colorado State College to the University of Southern Colorado and creating the Colorado Film Commission.
“I think he was most proud of getting Colorado up to speed on water law,” said his daughter, Carole McCormick. “He championed the satellite monitoring system and without it, Colorado would have lost a lot more water to downstream states. My father liked to remind people that all of Colorado’s rivers flow out of the state and none flow into it.”
In 1978, McCormick battled Pueblo Democrat Ray Kogovsek for the 3rd Congressional District seat and lost by just 366 votes. He lost another try in 1980.
“Mack was one of the best campaigners I ever saw,” Kogovsek said. “We didn’t run against each other with sound bites in those days. We had to get out among the voters and campaign, and Mack never seemed to run out of energy.”
In 1982, McCormick defeated GOP challenger Peter Sushemihl in a primary in a redrawn Senate district and went on to win the general election.
McCormick was born in Florence on May 16, 1918. He graduated from Canon City High School and the University of Denver and married Jeanne E. Rolfes, with whom he later owned the Skyline Theater and Sunset Drive-In in Canon City.
McCormick served in the Army and in photo intelligence for the 2nd Air Division in England during World War II. He later was a colonel in the Air Force Reserve.
In addition to Jeanne and Carole, McCormick is survived by daughter Dr. Ellen M. Noland and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at United Presbyterian Church in Canon City.
———
Information from: The Pueblo Chieftain,
