Colorado’s Civic Contributors

For a community to thrive it needs a marketplace of civic activists and leaders, people who within their neighborhoods, communities and professions, feel a responsibility to make things better. Three of Colorado’s civic contributors who I had the privilege of knowing have just passed from the scene – Bob Ewegen, Kay Pride, and Kathy Farley.

	Bob Ewegen Bob was a longtime editorial writer at the Denver Post. He was an archive of state history and political lore. His special strength was knowledge of natural resources, the state’s water, mining, farms, ranches and land use. We taught together at CU Denver campus graduate school media and public policy, and he told the greatest antidotes on how to write an editorial that could make a difference for a candidate or ballot issue.
	Kay Pride Kay believed public relations was a profession that required accuracy, attention to detail and frequent follow-up. She represented Mountain Bell, Jefferson County schools, including during Columbine, and the Jefferson County Library. She lived in and loved Denver’s civic life such as the City Club, its Park Hill and Cherry Creek neighborhoods, and its opera culture. Kay was a Denver treasure. She and I worked on numerous polls for her communication projects.
	Kathy Farley Kathy worked with a group of women and others to make Pueblo a better place for its residents her entire adult life. She served in elected office but mostly was a behind-the-scenes activist. My last contract was joining her at a League of Women Voters talk on politics, her favorite topic.