Regis Groff facts for kids

Regis F. Groff (April 8, 1935 – October 5, 2014) was an American teacher, politician, and public servant. He was the second African-American person elected to the Colorado State Senate. Groff served in the Senate for a total of 20 years. He was known for his strong public speaking skills. People often called him the "Conscience of the Colorado Senate."

About Regis Groff

His Early Life and Education

Regis F. Groff was born in Monmouth, Illinois, on April 8, 1935. He served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1957.

Groff attended Western Illinois University and graduated in 1962. After college, he worked for one year in Chicago. He was a case worker for the Cook County Department of Public Aid.

In 1963, Groff moved to Denver, Colorado. He started teaching history at Smiley Junior High School. In 1967, he moved to East High School. There, he taught history and government. While teaching, Groff also studied at the University of Denver. He earned a Master's degree in Education in 1972.

His Time as a Politician

Regis Groff first joined the Colorado State Senate in 1974. He won a special election to finish the term of Lieutenant Governor George L. Brown. Brown was the first African-American person elected to that position. This made Groff the second African-American to serve in the Colorado Senate.

Groff was re-elected to a full term in 1976. He continued to be re-elected until he left the Senate. In 1976, his fellow Democratic senators chose him as Assistant Minority Leader. He was later chosen as Senate Minority Leader in 1978 and 1980.

During his time in the Colorado Senate, Groff helped pass important laws. He worked to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day an official state holiday in Colorado. He also actively worked to make the state stop investing in companies that did business with Republic of South Africa. At that time, South Africa had a system called apartheid, which separated people by race. Groff traveled to South Africa, China, and other countries. He went on these trips to learn more and help Colorado's economy.

In 1986, Groff ran for Lieutenant Governor of Colorado but did not win.

Later Years and Legacy

Groff left the Colorado Senate in 1994. Governor Roy Romer appointed him as the first director of the Youthful Offender System in Denver. After he left, Gloria Tanner took his place. She became the first African-American woman to serve as a Colorado state senator. Groff also resigned from his role as president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. He had held that position for four years.

Groff retired from state service in 1998. He then became the Executive Director of the Metro Black Church Initiative. This was a religious community service group.

Regis Groff passed away on October 5, 2014, at 79 years old.

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock remembered Groff as a "truly great leader." He called Groff a "friend, a mentor, and an adviser." Mayor Hancock said Groff reminded him that elected officials should always focus on the community.

Regis Groff's son, Peter Groff, later served in the same Colorado State Senate district. His daughter, Traci L. (Groff) Jones, is a published author. There is also a school campus named after him in northeast Denver. The Regis F. Groff campus houses KIPP High School and Strive Prep High School.

His Published Works

• Dan Price (moderator), School Desegregation: A Black Perspective. With Rachel Noel. Racine, WI: Johnson Foundation, 1976. —Audio cassette.
• Afro-American Health issues in the 1990s: Interviews with Participants at the 14th Annual Meeting of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. (Contributor.) Washington, DC: National Black Caucus of State Legislators, n.d. [c. 1990]. —Audio cassette.