14 BOCNEWS.com FEBRUARY 2019 I characterize my life as an under- graduate and law school student as being goal directed and having perse- verance. I do not describe this as being courageous. In my mind, courage was demonstrated by my Dad fighting in World War, II, injured in a War against the Germans, protecting our democ- racy and receiving three bronze stars for his bravery and service to America. Because of Jim Crow policies, Dad was placed in all Black Army division and faced the indignity of white command- ers who treated him with less respect and dignity than the German prisoners of war. After his return from the mili- tary to Missouri where he was raised, he had to confront racisim and threats of violence if he did not follow the customs of the South. My Dad chose to move to Colorado, leave his family and eventually would meet my mother. This is courage. I look at the courage of my grandmother who in 1917, born and raised in Missouri, obtained her college degree from Lincoln University, an historic Black college. She moved to Colorado in 1926. Despite having a teaching degree, she was not allowed to use her teaching certificate to teach in Denver. The Denver Public School officials did not recognize her degree as accredited. Denver did not have its first Black DPS teacher until 1935, nine years after my grandmother was turned down. Her courage was finding other employment at the VA Hospital as a salad lady to help support her family. Courage was my grandfather working in a animal slaughter factory, which was back braking, mind numb- ing work to support his family. In our slaughter factories, today, you will find the workers to be our most recent immigrants to America. In 1970, I graduated from CU Law School. I was one of two Black Students to graduate. As a result of my superior law school education from CU, the rule of law became an all encompassing part of my life. I was hired by the Denver District Attorney, Mike McKevitt to be a prosecutor in his office. In my office is photograph of Dr. MLK, Jr. with the following saying: “It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.” In 1970, I was the only Black dep- uty District Attorney in the State of Colorado. There were four women in the office out of 40 lawyers, Ann Allott, sister in law of one of our former U.S. Senator, Ann Gorsuch, mother of Neil Gorsuch, one of our new U.S. Supreme Court Justices, Orelle Weeks, who became our first woman, Denver Juvenile Court judges and Marilyn Wilde. They were the first women hired in the Denver District Attorney’s office. These women were women of courage. Not everyone was pleased to see me become a deputy District Attorney in Colorado. In my first week on the job, I was pictured in the Rocky Mountain News with three of my colleagues who were sworn in as deputy D.A.’s. A Colorado Supreme Court Justice commented in an editorial, that my Afro did not demonstrate the dignity of being a lawyer in the most presti- gious prosecutorial office in the State. My Mom, believed and lived by the words of Dr. King, she sent the Justice a polite letter, informing him in no uncertain terms that educated people assess a person’s competency, by his behavior, character and talent and that I should be judged in that light. To the justice’s credit, he wrote a letter of apology to my Mom and invited both of us to lunch. Ironically, decades later in my private law practice, I defended the Justice’s grandson in a complex civil case. What my Mom did, in writ- ing that letter, took courage and pride in her children and in her race. During my 37 years in private prac- tice handled civil, criminal and com- mercial cases including being the trial attorney to acquire the property for the building our baseball stadium for the Colorado Rockies, and being on the Board for the building of the urban homes at the former Lowry Air Force Base. My service to Colorado and our citizens has been acknowledged in many different ways over the years, including being asked to make this presentation today. I have received the George Norlin Award the Order of the Coif and the William Lee Knous Award from the Law School, which are the highest honors conferred to a CU graduate. These accolades are the result of perseverance, good parenting and good role models. Despite all the awards and accomplishments, I am no different than any person in this room, ordinary people can do extraordinary things . During my life I have had my share of racial slurs, being called the n word, indignities, and threats hurled at me in my courtroom and on the streets of Denver. Through role models like Dr. King and my family members before me, I have learned to keep my composure and continue to believe that respect, perseverance, and deter- mination will always win over hatred. That having the courage to empower others through my life experiences and my professional experiences will continue to be a part of the legacy of courage. In closing with Dr. King’s words: “Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles.” Thank you for letting me share my family’s story. Please stand and give Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an ovation for showing us how to be courageous. THE NEW HOPE FAMILY LIFE CENTER is a 17,645 sq. ft. extension of New Hope Baptist Church. This multi-purpose / multi-use facility is composed of: a full-court gymnasium, commercial kitchen, banquet center, stage, choir rehearsal room, music library, chapel, meeting rooms, executive conference boardrooms, offices, an octagon-shaped prayer and meditation room, and friendly, courteous, customer-oriented service. EVENT CAPABILITIES THE NEW HOPE FAMILY LIFE CENTER is equipped with a state-of-the-art full commercial kitchen. This facility can provide general banquet seating for 450 people or 650 capacity seating for plays and concerts. A standing audience of 1,000 for an art or reception-type event can also be accommodated. The elegant décor not only provides a pleasant environment for dining, seminars, plays, or musicals, but the distributed sound system also provides a diverse, well-rounded, acoustically balanced environment for both vocal and musical performances. Well-lighted spacious parking is complementary and included in the base rental fee. For information regarding the use of the New Hope Family Life Center, please contact the administrative offices of New Hope Baptist Church at: 303.322.5200 or Events@NewHopeChurchDenver.org visit us online at: NewHopeChurchDenver.org THE NEW HOPE FAMILY LIFE CENTER IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR USE! for more info contact us at: 303.322.5200 or Events@NewHopeChurchDenver.org COURAGE ... continued from page 12