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 FameNameImageBirth–deathYearArea of achievementWalker Anderson(1866–1904)1973Construction ManHonorable Karen M. Ashby 2016Colorado Court of AppealsJames A. Atkins(1890–1968)1973TeacherUlysses H. Baker(1869–1933)1973Police DetectiveOdell C. Barry(1941–2022)2006Politician and businessmanJim Beckwourth (1798–1866)1973Scout and trapperJerome C. Biffle(1928–2002)1973Athlete and high school counselorJack Bradley(1919–2000)1973MusicianMoses Brewer(1947–)2012Multicultural relations/marketing"Aunt" Clara Brown(1800–1882)1973Freed slave-philanthropistGeorge L. Brown(1926–2006)1973Lieutenant Governor of ColoradoVictoria "Vikki" Denise Buckley(1949–1999)2000Colorado Secretary of StateDenise Burgess N.D.First African-American to chair the Denver Metro Chamber of CongressCharles Burrell(1920–)N.D.MusicianByron Caldwell(1926–2004)1973Civic WorkerElvin R. Caldwell(1919–2004)1973Denver city councilmanThomas Campbell, LLD(1869–1957)1973AttorneyTerrance D. Carroll(1969–)2010Speaker of the House, CO House of RepresentativesAlta Cousins(1884–1971)1973Charles Lilburn Cousins(1881–1962)1973Lulu Craig(1867–1971)1973TeacherMajor Oleta Lawanda Crain(1913–2007)1996WAAC/USAF - First African-American servicewoman from ColoradoGilbert Cruter(1915–2005)1973First African-American educator for Denver Public SchoolsHonorable Wiley Y. Daniel(1946–2019)2012Judge, U.S. District Court, District of ColoradoHiawatha Davis Jr.(1944–2000)1998Denver City CouncilmanEvie Dennis(1924–)1990First African-American and first woman superintendent of Denver Public SchoolsRuth Denny(1920–2012)2014Educator and civil rights activistElva J. Dulan(1914–2000)1973Public HealthHonorable James C. Flanigan(1915–2008)1973Colorado's first African-American judgeBarney Ford(1822–1902)1973BusinessmanJustina Ford(1871–1952)1973Colorado's first African-American woman physicianEugene Gash(1921–1995)1973Concert pianistJames C. Gaskin(1916–2009)1973First African-American director, Veteran's administration hospital, Denver 1971–78Bernard F. Gipson, M.D.(1921–2015)1973SurgeonJuanita Gray(1916–1987)1988Civic leaderZipporah Parks Hammond(1924–2011)2022First African-American to graduate from nursing program in ColoradoClarence F. Holmes, D.D.S.(1892–1978)1973Dentist/Human rights and relationsHonorable Gary M. Jackson 2022Oliver Toussaint Jackson(1862–1946)1973PioneerLedyard C. Jones(1895–1971)1973Bookkeeper and auditorHonorable Raymond Dean Jones(1945–)1990Colorado's first African-American appellate judgeHonorable Claudia J. Jordan(1953–)1996Colorado's first African-American woman county court judgeChief Roderick Juniel2020First African American Chief of the Denver Fire DepartmentReverend Leon Kelly(1956–)2022Oglesvie L. "Sonny" Lawson(1893–1969)1973Pharmacist/First African-American serving Denver Public Library CommissionWendell T. Liggins (1914–1991)1985Minister - Zion Baptist Church, Denver Public Library Commission memberEarl Mann(1886–1969)1973Legislator/Writer, CO House of Representatives 1944–53Keith "KC" Matthews(1962–)2000Engineer- Colorado Department of TransportationJessie Whaley Maxwell(1909–2002)1998Educator - Colorado and Denver's first African-American principalThomas E. McClain, D.D.S.(1876–1949)1973First African-American licensed dentist in ColoradoIrene McWilliams(1896–1990)1973Musician, teacher, and churchwoman Ronald "Ron" Glen Miles(1963–2022)2023Grammy-nominated jazz musician and composerAdrian Miller2024Community leader and culinary historianSyl Morgan-Smith(1940–)2002Communicator and community leaderGeorge Morrison Sr.(1891–1974)1973Musician/composerJohn William Mosley Jr. (1921–2015)1973USAAC/USAF Ret., Administrator/civic leaderRachel B. Noel(1918–2008)1973Assistant professor of sociologySebastian Cabot Owens(1913–1975)1973Director Colorado Urban LeagueJacqueline G. Peterson-Hall(1956–)2000Real estate developerHarry E. Rahming(1895–1985)1973Episcopal priest and theologian"Daddy Bruce" Randolph(1900–1994)1985Businessman and philanthropistAlphonse D. Robinson(1910–2000)2004Musician/composerCleo Parker Robinson(1948–)1994Artistic director/ambassadorPauline Short Robinson(1915–1997)1973Librarian and civic leaderDr. Jennie Mae Rucker(1922–2018)2019Edward J. Sanderlin(1824–1891)1973BusinessmanGregory K. Scott(1948–2021)1994Colorado's first African-American Supreme Court judgeRetired Division Chief Charles Thomas Smith2024Denver policePaul Wilbert Stewart(1925–2015)1973Museum curatorArie Parks Taylor(1927–2003)2004Politician, businesswoman, state representative in Colorado House of RepresentativesLandri Taylor(1950–)2008Civic leader, community affairsWilliam L. Turner(1894–1971)1973RealtorPeggy Underwood(1921–2008)1973SecretaryLu Vason(1939–2015)2010Founder/Director Bill Pickett RodeoColumbus "Chris" Veasy Jr., Ph.D.(1935–2021)1998Chairman, Denver County Democratic Party 1991James "Dr. Daddio" Walker(1939–)2008Black radio pioneerJames David Ward(1917–1993)1985EducatorWellington E. Webb(1941–)1988Mayor, city of DenverWilma Webb(1943–)1985First Lady of Denver, Colorado State representativeElbra Wedgeworth(1956–)2014City council president, Chief government and community relations officerJoseph H.P. Westbrooke(1878–1939)1973Physician, civic leaderCecilia Kay White(1962–)1973 William H. Whitsell (1866–1944)2024First African-American male born in ColoradoMurphy C. Williams(1916–1990)1973Pastor, businessmanEdna Wilson-Mosley(1925–2014)1992First African-American city councilwoman, Aurora, COPeter C. Groff(1963–)2026First African American President of the Colorado State SenateNancelia E. Scott Jackson(1953–2024)2026Civic engagement

See also

Bibliography of Colorado Geography of Colorado History of Colorado Index of Colorado-related articles List of Colorado-related lists Outline of Colorado

References

External links