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Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame facts for kids

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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
Name Image Birth–Death Year Area of achievement
Walker Anderson (1866-1904) 1973 Construction Man
Honorable Karen Ashby 2016 Colorado Court of Appeals
James A. Atkins (1890-1968) 1973 Teacher
Ulysses H. Baker (1869-1933) 1973 Police Detective
Odell C. Barry 2006 Politician and businessman
Jim Beckwourth James Beckwourth.jpg (1798-1866) 1973 Scout and trapper
Jerome C. Biffle Jerome Biffle 1950.jpg (1928-2002) 1973 Athlete and high school counselor
Jack Bradley 1973 Musician
Moses Brewer 2012 Multicultural relations/marketing
"Aunt" Clara Brown History char cbrown.jpg (1800-1882) 1973 Freed slave-philanthropist
George L. Brown George l. brown.jpg (1926-2006) 1973 Lieutenant governor of Colorado
Victoria "Vikki" Denise Buckley (1949-1999) 2000 Colorado Secretary of State
Denise Burgess N.d. First African-American to chair the Denver Metro Chamber of Congress
Charles Burrell Charlie Burrell at home.jpg (1920-) N.D. Musician
Byron Caldwell (1926-2004) 1973 Civic Worker
Elvin R. Caldwell Elvin Caldwell.jpg (1919-2004) 1973 Denver city councilman
Thomas Campbell, LLD (1869-1957 1973 Attorney
Terrance D. Carroll (1969-) 2010 Speaker of the House, CO House of Representatives
Alta Cousins (1884-1971) 1973
Charles Lilburn Cousins (1881-1962) 1973
Lulu Craig (1867-1971) 1973 Teacher
Major Oleta Lawanda Crain (1913-2007) 1996 WAAC/USAF - First African-American servicewoman from Colorado
Gilbert Cruter (1915-2005) 1973 First African-American educator for Denver Public Schools
Honorable Wiley Y. Daniel (1946-2019) 2012 Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
Hiawatha Davis Jr. (1944-2000) 1998 Denver city councilman
Evie Dennis (1924-) 1990 First African-American and first woman superintendent of Denver Public Schools
Ruth Denny (1920-2012) 2014 Educator and civil rights activist
Elva J. Dulan (1914-2000) 1973 Public Health
Honorable James C. Flanigan (1915-2008) 1973 Colorado's first African-American judge
Barney Ford Barney Ford.jpg (1822-1902) 1973 Businessman
Justina Ford Justina Ford.jpg (1871-1952) 1973 Colorado's first African-American woman physician
Eugene Gash (1921-1995) 1973 Concert pianist
James C. Gaskin (1916-2009) 1973 First African-American director, Veteran's administration hospital, Denver 1971-78
Bernard F. Gipson, M.D. 1973 Physician
Juanita Gray (1916-1987) 1988 Civic leader
Zipporah Parks Hammond (1924-2011) 2022 First African-American to graduate from nursing program in Colorado
Clarence F. Holmes, D.D.S. (1892-1978) 1973 Dentist/Human rights and relations
Gary M. Jackson 2022
Oliver Toussaint Jackson Oliver Toussaint Jackson.png (1862-1946) 1973 Pioneer
Ledyard C. Jones 1973 Bookkeeper and auditor
Honorable Raymond Dean Jones 1990 Colorado's first African-American appellate judge
Claudia J. Jordan 1996 Colorado's first African-American county court judge
Chief Roderick Juniel 2020 Construction Man
Reverend Leon Kelly 2022
Oglesvie L. "Sonny" Lawson (1893-1969) 1973 Pharmacist/First African-American serving Denver Public Library Commission
Wendell T. Liggins (1914-1991) 1985 Minister - Zion Baptist Church, Denver Public Library Commission member
Earl Mann (1886-1969) 1973 Legislator/Writer, CO House of Representatives 1944-53
Keith "KC" Matthews 2000 Engineer- Colorado Department of Transportation
Jessie Whaley Maxwell (1909-2002) 1998 Educator - Colorado and Denver's first African-American principal
Thomas E. McClain, D.D.S. (1876-1949) 1973 First African-American licensed dentist in Colorado
Irene McWilliams 1973 Musician, teacher, and churchwoman
Syl Morgan-Smith 2002 Communicator and community leader
George Morrison, Sr. (1891-1974) 1973 Musician/composer
John William Mosley Jr. (1921-2015) 1973 USAAC/USAF Ret., Administrator/civic leader
Rachel B. Noel (1918-2008) 1973 Assistant professor of sociology
Sebastian Cabot Owens (1913-1975) 1973 Director Colorado Urban League
Jacqueline G. Peterson-Hall 2000 Real estate developer
Harry E. Rahming 1973 Episcopal priest and theologian
"Daddy Bruce" Randolph 1985 Businessman and philanthropist
Alphonse D. Robinson 2004 Musician/composer
Cleo Parker Robinson 1994 Artistic director/ambassador
Pauline Short Robinson (1915-1997) 1973 Librarian and civic leader
Dr. Jennie Mae Rucker N.D.
Edward J. Sanderlin Edward J. Sanderlin.png (1824-1891) 1973 Businessman
Gregory K. Scott (1948-2021) 1994 Colorado's first African-American Supreme Court judge
Paul Wilbert Stewart (1925-2015) 1973 Museum curator
Arie Parks Taylor (1927-2003) 2004 Politician, businesswoman, state representative in Colorado House of Representatives
Landri Taylor 2008 Civic leader, community affairs
William L. Turner (1894-1971) 1973 Realtor
Peggy Underwood 1973 Secretary
Lu Vason 2010 Founder/Director Bill Pickett Rodeo
Columbus "Chris" Veasy, Jr., Ph.D. 1998 Chairman, Denver County Democratic Party 1991
James "Dr. Daddio" Walker 2008 Black radio pioneer
James David Ward 1985 Educator
Wellington E. Webb Wellington E. Webb 1999.jpg (1941-) 1988 Mayor, city of Denver
Wilma Webb Wilma Webb and Wellington Webb.JPG 1985 First lady of Denver, Colorado State representative
Elbra Wedgeworth 2014 City council president, Chief government and community relations officer
Joseph H.P. Westbrooke 1973 Physician, civic leader
Cecilia Kay White 1973
Murphy C. Williams 1973 Pastor, businessman
Edna Wilson-Mosley 1992 First African-American city councilwoman, Aurora, CO
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