HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-024-02/21/2006-UPDATING THE LIST FOR ARTERIAL AND COLLECTOR STREET NAMES RESOLUTION 2006-024
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
UPDATING THE LIST OF NAMES FOR ARTERIAL AND
COLLECTOR STREETS
WHEREAS, Section 24-91 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins establishes certain street
naming requirements for the naming of arterial and collector streets; and
WHEREAS, said Section 24-91 provides that the Council shall adopt and amend the list of
street names by resolution; and
WHEREAS, the list of street names has not been updated since September 2005; and
WHEREAS,the Council has determined that certain names,having heretofore been used for
street-naming purposes, should now be stricken from the list while certain other names should be
added to the list.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the list of street names for the naming of new arterial and collector streets as required
to be established pursuant to Section 24-91 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby repealed
and readopted to read as shown on Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Co 'I held this 21 st day of February,
A.D. 2006.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
EXHIBIT "A"
STREET NAMES
A&M In recognition of the past name of Colorado State University. (See
attached)
Aggie This is a common name given to A&M university students. Today
the Aggie tradition at CSU carries on as the nostalgic nickname.
(See attached)
Teller Ammons Teller Ammons was one of the youngest men ever to become
governor of Colorado in 1936. (See attached biography)
D.C. Armitage City Commission of Works, 10-2-13 to 4-10-16 and
4-12-32 to 4-12-38; also was an alderman 4-21-13 to 10-2-13
John Ayres
Ray Barger Larimer County Sheriff for many years.
Bath Immigrant family name and prosperous local merchants.
Blehm In recognition of a large family of Volga-Germans that immigrated
to the area primarily to work the sugar been harvest.
Jay Bouton City Attorney, alderman eight years; president Board of Education
18 years; 1870's, 1880's
Rattlesnake Jack Brinkhoff Buried in the Manhattan Cemetery near Livermore, `Rattlesnake
Jack"was buried there in March 1970 with special permission
from Ron Anderson, then of the Forest Service. Anderson
reportedly said, "Jack always lived on hard rock- he ought to be
put to rest on hard rock."
Stewart"Stew" Case Born in Fort Collins May 15, 1916. He was influential in starting
the Fort Collins Recreational Department. (See attached
biography)
Stan Case Stan and his wife Lola purchased the historic Arrowhead Lodge in
the Poudre Canyon in 1946. (See attached biography)
1
Cherryhurst A historic place name in reference to the farm and orchard owned
by Agnes Wright Spring, author and state historian in both
Colorado and Wyoming and member of the National Cowgirl Hall
of Fame, offered as one of two alternatives for County Road 11.
Chief Friday Chief Friday was leader of the Arapahoe in the Cache La Poudre
area during settlement. (See attached)
Samuel H. Clammer Mayor, 10-27-13 to 4-9-18
Tom Coffey City Manager, 10-1-65 to 6-12-72
Judge Claude Coffin Discoverer of Folsom site in northern Larimer County,
City Attorney 8-30-24 to 1-12-25
Major Roy Coffin Discoverer of Folsom site in northern Larimer County.
Arthur Collamer Born into a large pioneer family in 1893 and worked a variety of
jobs including stage coach driver, he and his family continuously
operated the wood lot just around the bend of the"Y"at Highway
287 and Highway One for 115 years.
Council Tree Native American tribes and white settlers traditionally met and
discussed issues at predetermined locations identified by natural
features. (See attached)
Ralph Coyte Colorado Judge and namesake of the Ralph Coyte Memorial Law
Library. (Larimer County Bar Assoc.)
Dickerson Alice and Helen Dickerson moved to their grandparent's 82-acre
homestead in the Buckhorn Canyon as very young children. As
adults, the sisters made or grew nearly everything they needed.
For over 80 years, from the 1910s until their deaths in the 1990s,
the Dickerson sisters truly represented our vanishing pioneer
heritage.
Dreher Three brothers who owned a pickle factory on Riverside Drive,
and founded Jax Surplus.
Lawrence Durrell* CSU senior faculty member, scientist, very instrumental
in starting the Colorado Agricultural Research Foundation
which greatly added to the growth of the university, 1940's.
2
J.W.N. (Bill) Fead Bill served on City Council from 1971-1975 and as Mayor from
1974-1975. He was a valued Civil Engineering professor at CSU
from 1957 until his retirement in 1995 during which time he
played a key role in moving the Department of Civil Engineering
into the national spotlight.
First Elk Woman First Elk Woman was the Sioux Indian wife of Antoine Janis, the
first permanent settler in Larimer County. She was of the Red
Cloud family. (See attached biography)
JD Forney Prominent Fort Collins industrialist. (See attached biography)
Leonard& Katherine Franz Leonard & Katherine Franz Farmed in Fossil Creek area
commencing in1882, later bought land on corner of Harmony
Road and Timberline Road; sold Harmony/Timberline property in
1917 for construction of the Harmony Store.
J. Ray French Fort Collins High School football coach, team won state
championships in early 1940s.
Montezuma Fuller Prominent architect and builder of distinctive buildings. (See
attached biography)
Frank Ghent Charter member of City Water Board, 1963 to 1967,
Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year" for 1982
George Glover* First Dean of Veterinary Medicine at CSU, turn of the century to
1934.
Jack A. Harvey Mayor, 4-14-59 to 4-11-61
Clara Hatton* CSU Senior faculity member, early 1900's
Earl Hodges Fire Department, 1930's to 1950's
Benjamin Hottel Two terms as alderman, instrumental in bringing to Fort Collins its
first large industry, the sugar beet factory, 1890's.
Miles House City Clerk, 8-16-37 to 12-31-68
Amos Jiron In recognition of an Hispanic family that moved here from the San
Luis Valley to work in the sugar beet harvest.
3
Orville P. Kelly Chief of the Fort Collins Police Department for 19 years: 1936-
1955. (See attached biography)
J.A.C. Kissock Checked and audited city books, two terms City Council, father of
Fort Collins sewer system, on City Council 4-11-67 to 5-13-70
Fred &Viola Kluver President of the Poudre Valley Bank and prominent family known
for their philanthropy.
Lady Moon Catherine Gattan, a colorful character, arrived in Larimer County,
Colorado in 1883 at 18 years old. (See attached bigoraphy)
Carl &Augusta Levine In recognition of the Levine's years of dedication to the arts and to
the community. (See attached biography)
Liston Leyendecker Wrote biography of George Pullman (Pullman Car); resident of
Fort Collins.
Emma Mallaby North-side grocery store owner
Matsuda In recognition of a prominent farm family and the contributions of
Japanese Americans in local agriculture.
John& Phyllis Mattingly Long-term Fort Collins residents who, combined, made significant
contributions to the local business and social scene. (See attached
biography)
Hattie McDaniel Hattie McDaniel was an accomplished actress most widely known
for her role as "Mammy" in Gone With the Wind. Hattie lived in
Fort Collins for a time as a child.
Glenn Morns Athletic star at Colorado Agricultural College and 1936 Olympic
gold medalist at the Berlin games. (See attached biography)
Lyman Nichols An expert in micro writing, Nichols perfected optical instruments
that were used in bomb sights by U.S. aircraft in WWII. These
sights were credited with helping to shorten the war. Nichols and
his wife made their home on Lindenmeier Road on a hill
overlooking Long Pond after his retirement in 1951.
Norlin In recognition of an early farming family that had a large farm in
south Fort Collins.
Guy Palmes City Manager, 2-24-39 to 9-15-61
4
Ralph Parshall Inventor of the"Parshall Flume." (See attached biography)
Grace Espy Patton-Cowles First woman registered voter to Fort Collins - 1894;
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Bill Robb Architect and first community planner; established an architectural
firm in 1953 known today as RB&B; served on several boards and
commissions, including the city's first Planning and Zoning Board;
designed Saint Luke's Episcopal and First United Methodist
churches and the Old City Hall.
Franklin Pierce Rudolph Arrived in Fort Collins in 1906, farmed and built a large home and
three silos, road became known as Three Silos Road, now Summit
View Drive, descendants still live in the area
Bob Sears Prominent local businessman who founded a successful lumber
company.
Harry Smiley Manager and volunteer at museum, 6-1-63 to 6-1-70
Pappy Spencer Prospector and burro wrangler(skinner) who kept his burros at
Overland Trail and Elizabeth.
Elfreda Stebbins First Librarian at Carnegie Library(now museum)
Librarian for 28 years 1904 to 1932.
Lee Suniga Prominent local citizen who rose from being a migrant worker;
accomplished athlete who used baseball to help break down racial
barriers. (See attached biography)
Ellen Thexton hi charge of cultural and performing arts, 7-1-76 to 9-6-83
John &Tom Toliver Prominent local family who founded a successful hardware
business and built a large home recognized for its art deco style.
T.P. Treadwell Fire Chief, upgraded department 2-1-30 to 8-15-52
Trostel Prominent business man who owned a lumber mill and store.
Corky Walt Decorated WWII Army general.
C.C. (Clancy) Wanneka Descendant of Colorado homesteaders and graduate of Colorado
A&M. C.C. served on the State Board of Agriculture, including
four years as president, during years of significant growth for
CSU.
5
David Watrous Manager and volunteer at museum, editor of Fort Collins
newspaper.
Byron White Fort Collins native, attended Wellington schools, All-American
football player at C.U., awarded two Bronze Stars in W.W. Two,
Rhodes Scholar, appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President
Kennedy in 1962, served as a Supreme Court Justice for 30 years.
White Gold The name given to sugar beets in recognition of the economic
importance of this commodity.
Earl Wilkinson Moved to Fort Collins in 1924, Served on City Council from 1974
to 1981, Mayor from 1976 to 1977, Community Builder of the
Year- 1990, long serving member of numerous organizations
including the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce(president), Platte
River Power Authority, Downtown Development Authority, Longs
Peak Council of the Boy Scouts, Colorado Municipal League and
charter member of the Transportation Advisory Board.
*Names given by CSU
6
BIOGRAPHIES and INFORMATION
Top Seven as Recommended by the
Citizen Ad-hoc Advisory Committee
Aggie
Some confusion over when Colorado State University started using the
Aggie as the mascot exists; however, the term "Aggie" was used even
before the university was renamed Colorado A&M. The nickname carries
on today and captures the pride and spirit of the original Land Grant
mission of the university.
On December 4, 1923, the students of then Colorado Agricultural College
decided in a special meeting to have the school's insignia painted in the
first hogback that is now the backdrop for Hughes Stadium. On December
12, 1923, students hiked to up the hill to prepare the site for painting and
six hours later the project was completed. Just shy of a year later,
students improved on the "A" by enlarging it to its current size of 450 ft tall
by 210 ft wide at the base.'
The whitewashing of the "A" is now an annual homecoming tradition for
the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Student Alumni Connection
that honors alumni from an earlier time. The "A" represents a signpost on
the landscape that establishes our local identity and contributes to our
unique sense of place.
After Colorado A&M changed its name to Colorado State University in
1957 a debate ensued about changing the "A" to an "R", however, the
significance of the "A" as an aerial guide for aviators saved the historic
landmark.2 While the "Aggie" mascot's exact date is not known, we do
know that the Rambouillet Ram took over the post of official mascot in
1947. When the school adopted its final name change in 1957, students
voted to name the Ram mascot CAM to stand for Colorado A&M, a tip of
the hat to the University's Aggie heritage.3
' James E.Hansen,Democracy's College in the Centennial State:A History of Colorado State University
(Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University, 1977),278-79.
'Nancy Hanford,Fort Collins Highlights: The Last Fifty Years... (Fort Collins, CO: Indian Hills
BookWorks,2001),35-36.
s Colorado State University,htto://www.colorstate.edu.
t
For newcomers to Fort Collins, the reference to the Aggies can be
confusing since the C.S.U. official mascot is now the Rams. While new
arrivals seldom like to admit ignorance of a local tradition, alums, natives
and old-timers take delight in reminding our newest citizens of this
nostalgic term of endearment. An "Aggie" is anyone who ever graduated
from or supports or loves Colorado State University past, present or
future.
Chief Friday
Chief Fridaywas leader of the Arapahoe in the Cache La Poudre area
p
during settlement. Many thanks are owed to him for the friendly relations
between incoming settlers and the Arapahoe. This was in part because
Chief Friday spoke English and seemed to have an inherent liking for the
white settlers. His English and fondness for whites were likely because he
was found as a child in 1831 by Thomas Fitzpatrick, a mountain man and
Indian agent, who raised him for a time, sending him to Catholic school
and bringing him to fur trade rendezvous.
Known as Friday Fitzpatrick to whites, the Indian child did eventually
return to the Arapahoe tribe from which he had been lost. In 1851, Friday
went to Washington D.C. with Thomas Fitzpatrick and a delegation of 11
other Natives to meet President Fillmore. This prestigious visit gained
Friday status and notoriety and earned him the title of Chief of the
Arapahoe band from Cache La Poudre.
Though Chief Friday and his band stealthily stole horses and food, never
did they attack white settlements or cause harm to the settlers, and thus
they remained on friendly terms with the whites. Sadly, Chief Friday and
his band shared the same fate as other Native Americans during the
period of U.S. treaty-making and Indian reorganization and relocation. His
band fell on hard times and he resorted to signing a treaty and petitioning
the state to get food and supplies for his people by 1867. Chief Friday did
leave the area, selling his horse, Old Swift Bird, to a Laporte resident
when he did, though the exact date is not known, it was most likely
between 1870 and 1874.4
"Evadene Burris Swanson,Fort Collins Yesterdays(Fort Collins, CO:Don-Art Printers,Inc., 1975, 1993),
78-85.
2
Council Tree
Native American tribes traditionally met and discussed issues at
predetermined locations. Because of their stature, symbolic features and
the comfort that they provided, large, stately trees were used and became
known as Council Trees. The Arapahos who lived in this area would visit a
tree located near the Cache la Poudre River north of Strauss Cabin. The
cabin is located at the north end of Strauss Cabin Road east of Harmony
Road. A City of Fort Collins acknowledges this history with the naming of
Arapahoe Bend Natural Area in this location.
Strauss was friend of Indians and was allowed to attend parleys with them
at the Council Tree. The tree is no longer there. By one account Strauss
was in attendance during one parley where the Indians were particularly
unhappy with the whites and were discussing war and raiding parties, it is
said, he felt fortunate to be able to leave un-noticed.
John & Phyllis Mattingly.
John and Phyllis Mattingly were long-term Fort Collins residents who,
combined, made significant contributions to the local business and social
scene. John was a C.S.U. professor who developed the "Eater Pic," an
oral irrigation dental device, which was the forerunner of the first products
of the Aqua-Tech Company which he cofounded in the early 1960's. The
company later became known as Water-Pik in 1968 and is still in business
today with a successful product line. The local economic contributions of
this company were significant in the transition from an economy based on
agricultural products to high-tech manufactured products.
Phyllis was a champion ballroom dancer and expert graphologist (hand-
writing analysis). In her later years Phyllis traveled world as a famous
dancer and redefined, for her era, what it meant to be an active senior
citizen.
Lyman Nichols
An expert in micro engraving, Nichols perfected optical instruments that
were used in bomb sights by U.S. aircraft in World War Two. The Norden
Bombsite was a significant improvement upon the previous spider web
design and was credited with helping to shorten the war. Nichols' optics
were also used in Skylab in 1973. He was a resident of northeast Fort
Collins.
3
Ralph L. Parshall
Born in 1881 and died in 1959, Ralph Parshall is perhaps most famous for
his invention of the "Parshall Flume" which became a standard water
measuring device throughout the world. He graduated from Colorado
Agricultural College (now CSU) in 1904 and served as a faculty member
until 1913. He dedicated 35 years to the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of Irrigation Investigations. CSU campus boasts a beautiful
recreation of the Parshall Flume on the south side of the Engineering
building. His contributions to the field of agricultural irrigation were global
and represent the fulfillment of the Land Grant mission to apply technology
for practical and beneficial purposes.
Lee Suniga
Lee Suniga was Fort Collins' ambassador for the preservation of Hispanic
History. Lee was born July 22, 1922 in Fort Collins and he passed away
December, 2004. Lee's family worked the beets on the Peasley Farm at
County Road 9 and County Road 36 when Lee was a child. He went to
Harmony and Timnath Schools and later lived in the Alta Vista and Holy
Family neighborhoods.
When the Big Thompson Project began, Lee got a job on the project as an
iron worker. He said this project gave Hispanic men the opportunity to
move off of the farm and become a skilled tradesman. This was a very
positive step for the Hispanic members of our community for the higher
wages provided a higher standard of living for their families.
During the 1940s-1960s Lee's passion was baseball. He played center
field for 11 years for the Fort Collins Legionnaires and then coached the
team from 1956 to 1960. He served as their manager until 1965.
Baseball was a major social event for Fort Collins Hispanic people; and
Lee memorialized the northern Colorado Hispanic ballplayers at a special
event sponsored by Coors field on August 10, 1998. The Rockies
baseball game that night was dedicated to these players and their
involvement in early baseball history; Lee received the Baseball Pioneer
Award that night. He was also instrumental in the development of the
Colorado Hispanic Baseball Hall of Fame.
Lee worked with the Fort Collins Museum and the Local History Archive of
the Fort Collins Public Library to document Fort Collins' Hispanic and
Baseball history. He provided oral histories on baseball, the Big
Thompson project, Hispanic neighborhoods and agricultural history, and
his life for the Local History Archive. He provided documentation and
4
artifacts for the museum's exhibit on Hispanics and their exhibit on early
baseball.
Many people knew Lee as a tireless worker for his church, his people, and
for improving the relations between all sectors of our community. He
represents our agricultural history, our water history, our sports history,
our Hispanic history, and most importantly, he was an ambassador of
good will for all members of the City of Fort Collins. Lee had fond
memories of his childhood and the farmers and beetworkers in the
Harmony area. The soon-to-be-renamed Cambridge Avenue bisects the
Peasley farm where he spent his childhood.5
s Written by Rheba Massey,Local History Coordinator Fort Collins Public Library.
5
OTHER BIOGRAPHIES AND INFORMATION
FOR NEW NAMES TO THE OFFICIAL LIST
A&M
Colorado State University has not always been known as CSU. In fact, it was
originally called Colorado Agricultural College (CAC) until 1935. That year the
governing-board approved a student petition to change the college's name to
more accurately reflect the diversity of its academic programs. The school
became the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, or
Colorado A&M in 1935. This change along with several others, including the
construction of a student union and women's dormitory, all occurred during
Charles Lory's time as university president. To honor the former name, the
initials for Colorado A&M - C.A.M. became the name of the new mascot. Thus
we have "Cam" the Ram.
Teller Ammons
Teller Ammons was one of the youngest men ever to become governor of
Colorado. He was elected shortly before his fortieth birthday in 1936. He was the
son of former Governor Ellias M. Ammons and was born in Denver on December
3, 1895. Teller was named after his father's friend, U.S. Senator Henry M. Teller
of Colorado.
His family moved to Colorado in 1871, five years before the territory became a
state. He graduated from North High School in Denver and later served in the
U.S. Army in France during World War I. After the war, he homesteaded on a
ranch in Grand County but returned to Denver in 1923, where he went to work for
a newspaper. He eventually became a clerk in the office o f Mayor Ben
Stapleton. While in this position he studied law at Westminster Law School and
obtained his law degree in 1929.
His first venture into public office came in 1930 when he was elected a state
senator from Denver. He was re-elected in 1934, but resigned in 1935 when
Stapleton appointed him Denver City Attorney. During his legislative career,
1
Ammons was chairman of the Senate Temperance Committee, introduced the
bill abolishing hanging as Colorado's form of capital punishment, and was
instrumental in passing the bill authorizing the gas chamber for use in
executions.
He was elected governor in 1936. As governor, he aroused public opposition by
retaining the proceeds from a newly enacted state income tax, earmarked only
for schools. Despite strong pressure from many special interest groups, Ammons
refused to tamper with the funds. During the previous administration, old age
pension payments had used up eighty five percent of all excise tax revenue,
resulting in the state being without funds to pay its own operating expenses.
Ammons then pushed through a service tax so that the state would have a
source of funds to pay its expenses, but he was severely criticized for that as
well. Although these funding arguments dominated his term, Ammons guided
the state through the treacherous financial shoals of the latter years of the Great
Depression and accomplished the establishment of the State Game and Fish
Department and the State Water Conservation Board.
In addition, he took the first steps to stop the bickering between Colorado,
Nebraska, Kansas and New Mexico concerning rights to the water that originated
on the eastern and southern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The
most publicized aspect of his administration was the "microphone scandal". This
investigation resulted in the conviction of a Denver Post reporter, a private
detective and an attorney, on a charge of eaves-dropping on Governor Ammons.
The "microphone scandal" rocked the state government, led to a grand jury
investigation, conviction of the three men on eaves-dropping charges,
disbarment of the attorney and publication of numerous private conversations
between Ammons and his aides. None of the recordings contained any
testimony damaging to the governor's integrity. Teller Ammons married Esther
Davis on September 9, 1933. They adopted a son named Davis Ammons.
During World War II, Teller became an Army Officer Selection Board Member.
Later he became an executive in the military government of Guam.
After returning from the war, he practiced law in his Denver firm until his
retirement. He saved enough money to begin an annual series of trips to Africa,
Alaska, India, Australia and South America. His wife died on October 18, 1967,
while they were on safari in Kenya. Teller Ammons died four years later on
January 16, 1972, at the age of seventy-six at St. Luke's Hospital in Denver.
(Colorado State Archives online)
2
"Rattlesnake Jack" Brinkhoff
Jack Brinkhoff was a colorful character known throughout the County as a bit of
rascal. His reputation as being non-social probably stemmed from living in the
mountains and not having much time or patience with flatlanders and town folks.
He is subject of many tall tales many of which are probably true to some extent.
His last wish was unusual in that he wanted to be buried in the old cemetery for
the ghost mining town of Manhattan. This took special permission from the U.S.
Forest Service who granted the dying man's last request.
Stan Case
Stan and his wife Lola purchased the historic Arrowhead Lodge in the Poudre
Canyon in 1946. They added the 6th cabin, porches and dining room and
modern kitchen. Special care was given to matching the logs and architecture of
the original structures. They also built the large high peaked ice house where
they stored 25 tons of ice, cut from the Poudre River, usually in December, to
keep food supplies cool into the Summer. They owned and operated this lodge
for many years hosting a long list of Fort Collins families. (Poudre River Resort
history).
Stan was also the Director of the City of Fort Collins Light and Power Utility for
many years. In the early 1970's, he was the primary force behind the formation
of the Platte River Power Authority and the construction of the Rawhide Power
Plant. This was a significant collaborative effort with three other cities ensure a
reliable and locally controlled electrical power supply which is credited with
attracting the high tech industry to the area.
Stewart "Stew" Case
Born in Fort Collins May 15, 1916. His father was also born in Fort Collins and
his grandfather came to Red Feather (Black Mountain Ranch) in 1886. Known
for his support of Fort Collins High School and CSU (then CAC), Stewart
graduated from FCHS in 1933 and then from CAC in 1941 where he had served
as a Pacemaker and president of the student body 1940-1941.
He served in the Army as a 2"d Lt. from 1941 to 1946 and was then sent to Korea
from 1951 to 1952. He was awarded the Bronze Star, given to soldiers who
performed an act of combat heroism (valor) or for meritorious service, with two
oak leaf clusters, one for each additional act of valor or meritorious service.
3
He served as an Extension Specialist until 1972 and was President of the
Colorado Recreation Society, a National President of the American Parks and
Recreation Society, and a District Deputy for the Colorado Elks. He was
influential in starting the Fort Collins Recreational Department. After retirement
he served 10 years as Secretary for the Retired Officers Association, President
of CSU Retired Faculty, and the National Association of Retired Federal
Employees. Stewart Case died on December 17, 1990. (101 Memorable Men of
Northern Colorado)
First Elk Woman
First Elk Woman was the Sioux Indian wife of Antoine Janis, the first permanent
settler in Larimer County. She was of the Red Cloud family. First Elk Woman
moved to the area along the Poudre River which is now LaPorte with her
husband around 1859. There Janis helped organize the first permanent
settlement in Larimer County called Colona. In part because of First Elk Woman,
Janis had good relations with the local Native groups and was able to assist in
treaty negotiations because of his extensive language abilities. First Elk Woman
missed her people, however, so in 1878 Janis moved his family to the Pine Ridge
Sioux Reservation. That cabin that Janis built for his family is now protected at
the Fort Collins Museum. (101 memorable Men of Northern Colorado)
James Donovan "JD" Forney
Born January 27, 1905 in Enid, Oklahoma, JD ran away from home at 11 years
old and ended up in Sterling, Colorado with his brother. He graduated from high
school in Sterling and then enrolled at Colorado A&M as a mechanical
engineering student.
In 1932, Mr. Forney invented the Instant Heat Smoldering Iron while working as a
book and encyclopedia salesman. This was the foundation for Forney Industries.
He, with a small team of men, went around the country selling his invention.
After his first invention, Mr. Forney designed the first farm welder accepted into
the REA lines and in time had recruited a large sales force to market his welder
to farmers. Forney Industries produced the Aircoupe airplane and built-in
residential vacuum systems in the 1950,s. His son, Jack, was the Chairman of
the Board of Forney Industries as of 2002 and also manages the Forney
Museum of Transportation in Denver which houses his father's extensive
collection of antique cars, buggies, trains and other transportation vehicles.
4
Forney Industries, founded by JD, is one of the longest continuously operating
businesses in Fort Collins. In 1966 the Free Enterprise Award Association chose
JD Forney for the esteemed "American Success Story" award, which is given
only to those few individuals who came from humble beginnings and rose to
become successful entrepreneurs. JD Forney died in 1986 and is buried next to
his wife in Grandview Cemetery. (101 memorable Men of Northern Colorado)
Montezuma Fuller
Montezuma Fuller, known as "Montle" by friends and family, was born November
13, 1858 in Nova Scotia. He worked as a ship's carpenter until he was 21 when
he decided to head west to Colorado. He thought Colorado would be a
challenging new place to put his carpentry skills to work. He arrived in Fort
Collins when he was 22 to find a town that barely reached 1,000 residents and
had few permanent buildings to speak of.
Fuller had been right; this was the place to put his carpentry skills to work! He
became responsible for building many residential homes, schools, ten churches,
and several commercial structures. Though he was only a builder by trade,
Montezuma Fuller earned the local title of architect in the newspaper. He had
plentiful work in the area and was in quite demand, especially during the 1890s.
Much of his early focus was on residential housing, however, he shifted to
commercial building in the mid-1890s. Some of his most notable efforts still
standing are the Edwards House, the Mosman House, the Avery Block, and the
United Brethren Church in Berthoud. (101 Memorable Men of Northern Colorado
and Fort Collins Historic Preservation files on prominent structures)
Orville P. Kelly
In 1955 Orville P. Kelly was going on 19 years of serving as Chief of the Fort
Collins Police Department. On August 19, 1955, he was awarded the annual
"Gold Seal of Progress" award. This award is based on the length of service in
law-enforcement, youth activities, police traffic control programs, control of vice,
gambling & other civic activities.
Kelly came to Fort Collins in 1925 after being appointed as deputy sheriff. He
was elected Sheriff in 1928 and served a four year term and was appointed
Police Chief in 1937. Kelly was President of the Police Protection Association in
1957, which led to the "gold Seal of Progress" award. He was a member of the
5
Fort Collins Safety Council and a past President of the Community Chest. The
•
Commumt y Kiwanis Builder of the Year award was presented to him in 1955.
Orville P. Kelly stepped down as police chief at the age of 72, after 25 years of
service. (Fort Collins Public Library)
Lady Moon
Catherine Gattan was born on a ship at sea in 1865. She arrived in Larimer
County, Colorado in 1883 at 18 years old were she took a job as a waitress.
Catherine met an Englishman named Lord Cecil Moon and they were married in
Livermore in 1888. The couple returned to England for a few years, however,
they made the journey back to Fort Collins in 1902.
It is said that Lady Moon was not much of a lady. She was know for being
boisterous and ill-mannered and spent much of her time on her ranch drinking
whiskey and spending time with the ranch hands. Lady Moon's marriage lasted
20 years before ending in divorce. After the divorce Lady Moon insisted on
keeping her title and remained a colorful, if controversial, figure in Fort Collins
until her death. Novelist Homer Croy wrote about her in his novel Lady from
Colorado. (From http://www.over-land.com)
Carl and Augusta Levine
Carl and Augusta were philanthropists who provided years of dedication to the
arts and to the community. In 1995, they established the Carl and Augusta
Levine Endowment Fund. Carl was a humanitarian, teacher, activist and
playwright. He taught through his work and by his example that one man can
indeed make a difference. The Fund provides the opportunity to mount shows
that will allow the community to reflect on important social issues and perhaps
deal with conflict and injustice in a humane way. The Levine's were active in the
relocation of Holocaust survivors after World War Two. They were instrumental
in the renaming of Farm Tree Road to Wallenberg Drive in the Sheely
neighborhood (south of Prospect Road and east of Shields Street) in honor the
famous activist who also rescued Jews from Europe during World War Two.
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Glen Morris
Glenn Morris was born on June 18, 1912, in Simla, Colorado. He attended Simla
High School where his athletic career was impressive. He played end in football,
starred in basketball, and was a standout in track and field. His 220-yard low
hurdle record stood for over 40 years.
In the fall of 1930, Glenn enrolled at Colorado Agricultural College, Fort Collins,
now known as Colorado State University. Morris played four years at Colorado
Agricultural College where he was named all-conference in football in 1933 and
1934.
His track career was spectacular within the state of Colorado. Morris first
considered the decathlon in 1932 while a spectator at the Los Angeles Olympic
Games. After his graduation in 1934, Morris competed for the Denver Athletic
Club, while at the same time he earned a living as an assistant to Coach Hughes,
and a part time automobile dealer. Morris's first decathlon was the Kansas
Relays. Two months later on June 26 and 27, in Milwaukee, the Olympic track
and field trials were held. Morris's second decathlon found him victorious;
however, the victory was a hard fought one. Robert Clark, of the San Francisco
Athletic Club, challenged Morris down to the last event. Glenn won with a world
record score of 7,880 points. Newsweek called Morris the nation's new "Iron
Man."
Morris was then selected to U.S. Olympic Team to compete in the 1936 Olympic
games in Berlin. Despite his record breaking performances and first place
finishes, the Colorado youth was not the pre-Games favorite for the decathlon.
However, his point total was a new Olympic and world record, 7,900 points, and
he became the fourth American athlete to win the decathlon. He led the United
States delegation to the first sweep of the medal by any country. The 24 year old
Colorado youth was proclaimed the "World's Greatest Athlete." His homecoming
in New York was a ticker tape parade while in Colorado it was a statewide affair.
After the Olympics, he starred as Tarzan in several Hollywood movies before
being replaced by other actors.
When the United States entered WWII, Morris enlisted in the Navy and served in
the South Pacific. He saw combat action and was subsequently injured. After
the war, Morris moved his home to California where he found work as a steel
rigger for twelve years for the Atomic Energy Commission. Thirty-three years
after his Berlin triumph, Morris was remembered n February 27, 1969 by the
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame not only as Colorado's best athlete but also as the
world's greatest athlete. (www.ouriournev.info)
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John and Tom Toliver
These brothers established a thriving local hardware store that served the
community for many years. They were considered prominent businessman for
their day. The old store building now serves as a City office building on North
Mason Street. The Toliver House at the northwest corner of LaPorte Avenue and
Shields Street remains a fine example of the art deco style.
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