From left: Sam Gary, Nancy Gary, Dean Singleton and Adrienne Singleton. (Provided by Colorado Open Lands)
Three hundred fifty friends of filled the Seawell Grand Ballroom recently to see Dean Singleton and Dan Ritchie honored as Champions of the Land.
Singleton, chairman of The Denver Post, and , chairman and chief executive officer of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, have extensive land holdings in Colorado and are committed to saving them from development.
In 1998, Ritchie donated a significant portion of his Grand River Ranch to the , of which he is chancellor emeritus. “The ranch has held a very special place in my heart for two decades,” he said at the time. “I love this land, but I love the University of Denver more.”
The value of his gift was estimated to be $50 million.
Highlights of the evening included videos, produced by Rocky Mountain PBS, and a discussion moderated by event co-chair Jean Galloway where the honorees spoke about their passion for the land and the importance of preserving it for generations to come.
Judi Wolf, left, and Jean Galloway. (Provided by Colorado Open Lands)
Galloway, whose co-chairs were Joy Burns, Judi Wolf and June Travis, observed that both Singleton and Ritchie had been recognized before as champions of the arts, champions of education and champions of free speech, and to add to their “legendary leadership,” they were being given a new title, Champions of the Land.
To commemorate that honor, each received an original watercolor by Western artist Willie Matthews, who was there to unveil each painting.
Also participating in the program were Dan Pike, retiring president, and Brian Ross, retiring vice president, of Colorado Open Lands, and Wendell Fleming, vice chair of the board.
Pike introduced his successor, Tony Caligiuri, who had flown in from his home in Maryland for the festivities. Caligiuri becomes president and chief executive officer of Colorado Open Lands on Nov. 1, after having served as senior vice president/conservation and education for the National Wildlife Federation.
Mark Spritzer and June Travis. (Provided by Colorado Open Lands)
Other guests were Judi and Bob Newman; Ken Gart, who started the event eight years ago, and his wife, Rebecca; Donald Seawell; Marvin Wolf; Jeannie and John Fuller; Jennie and Charlie Kurtz; Phyllis Coors; Charlie Russell, chair of the Colorado Open Lands board; Sam and Nancy Gary; former Denver Mayor Federico Pena and his wife, Cindy; Brook and Brian Griese; Dr. Ben Galloway; Faye and Dr. Reggie Washington; Dianne Eddolls and Glenn Jones; Cal Fulenwider; Dave Palmer; Jennifer Weddle; Paul Phillips and Susan Zimmerman; Peter and Cathy Dea; Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld; Denver Post publisher Mac Tully and editor Greg Moore; Ed and Jackie Warner; and the University of Denver’s new chancellor, Rebecca Chopp.
From left: Jean Galloway, artist Willie Matthews, Dean Singleton and Dan Ritchie. (Provided by Colorado Open Lands)
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com and @joannedavidson on Twitter
