Colorado-1
A Historical
Perspective
By Dick Lewis (Co-founder)
Being one of the Co-Founders of the
Chapter and one of the few original members left around, I was recently asked to
try and put together a sort of written history of Colorado Chapter-1. Since I sometimes get
accused of being “old” and forgetful, this may not be 100% accurate, but I‘ll
try.
Having ridden together for quite a few years, both on duty as motor
officers for the State Patrol and recreationally as well, Lloyd Stewart & I
started talking in mid 1985 about seeing if there was enough interest in forming
a Blue Knights Chapter in the metro area. Research and talk led to a first
organizational meeting being held at the King’s Table Cafeteria at the old Villa
Italia Mall on West Alameda in August of 1985. We subsequently got the
minimum required 15 prospective members to commit and requested a Charter from
the International. On January 1, 1986 the re-incarnation of Colorado Chapter-1 came
into existence. It seems that, according to the International, a “Chapter
1” had existed previously and then folded and we were given the option of having
that number or a new designation. From the start, it was always the desire
of the membership to be and remain a “family” oriented club where our spouses
and kids would always feel welcome and appreciated.
The chapter grew quickly and our original chartered roster consisted of
35 members representing the Colorado State Patrol, 18th Judicial
Dist. Atty.’s Office, Littleton P. D., Adams County S. O., Englewood P. D.,
Boulder County S. O., Lakewood D. P. S., Jefferson County S. O. & Douglas County
S. O.. Quite a far cry from the now enjoyable roster of 130+ members
representing 40+ departments. The only members still active from the
original roster are myself, “Shorty” Vetter, Jack Arnold, Gary Kasson, Jim
Yarrington and Bob Mitchell. I have to say that my partner in crime in
dreaming up the project from the start, Lloyd Stewart, is still active in the
Blue Knights but in, of all places,
Redding,
California. At first the
chapter continued, briefly, to meet at various cafeterias for breakfast and at
alternate places including the Adams County Substation and Littleton P. D.. Late in ’86, the
meetings moved to the CSP HQ at 6th & Kipling and later to Lakewood DPS until the
space they allowed us to use became too small. We then met at Fay Meyers
Honda on West Alameda until it burned down and then Foothills Cycles on Wadsworth. When that
space too became too small, the meetings were moved to our current home at Camp
George West, again thanks to the CSP.
The first “Colors” took some time to get approved and the chapter finally
received them in October 1986. They were on blue denim style vests with
the back patches being made locally by a lady who did them on a machine at her
home. If anyone wants to see what the original colors were like, Shorty is
the only one who still regularly wears the original style most of the time.
Through the years, the activities of the chapter have expanded and
involved a lot of diversity. We’ve supported several different charities
over the years, but seem to have been most active with the Colorado Boys’ Ranch at La Junta. We
have helped out other groups like Bird’s of Prey, as well, and have really
enjoyed working with Ronald MacDonald House the last few years. We’ve also
spent a lot of time providing escorts for the Bolder Boulder run on Memorial Day Weekend for
several years.
I’d be remiss, and probably in trouble too, if I didn’t say something
about the chapter’s signature event, Top Gun. Top Gun, originally the
brain child of Jack Arnold and a couple others, has become truly a nationally
renowned event. Started in 1989, it was held for the first two years at
the Jefferson County Stadium parking lot at West 6th Ave.
& Kipling. In 1991 we were fortunate to get an arrangement into place and
began using the Red
Rocks
Community College parking lot. A lot of effort
by a lot of members has brought it to where it is today. Though it takes a
lot of work every year, the number of departments that look forward to
participating continues to grow and the sponsors that have become involved have
become valued members of the Colorado-1 “family”. In addition to the many
commercial sponsors and youth groups who put up booths every year at the event,
it has been great to see the development of our relationship with the City of Black Hawk’s Board of
Alderman, the City Council. Their financial help with Top Gun is
invaluable and we have been privileged to be able to look forward to helping
them out the last two years with their rodeo event in August. It’s being
involved in the community around us that makes Colorado-1 the club that it is
and also gives the positive image the Blue Knights needs to maintain as the Law
Enforcement based organization it is.
Colorado-1 has had a lot of fun over the years meeting and riding with
members of other Chapters and groups both in
Colorado
as well as across the country. Many members have developed a lot of great
friendships all over the world. It’s really true that in the Blue Knights
there are no strangers, just friends you haven’t met yet. Many members
have enjoyed rides to and with Chapters in New Mexico,
Arizona, California and others. Some still attend an
annual “Cal-Tex” ride to different places each June. That ride started
many years ago by some California
& Texas motor officers, has been to places all
over the country and twice to Canada. At times the event has
seen over 300 bikes (all cops) from all over the country getting together for
three days of riding, eating and fellowship. If you’ve never had the
opportunity to ride with upwards of 15-20 other “Knights” on a cross-country
trip, folks, it’s something you have to experience. To put it plainly, “if’n
ya ain’t done it, ya’ll are missin out”.
Some rides that started as fun get-togethers have evolved into annual
affairs. The Gunnison “summit” meeting at
the KOA that has become an annual event was originally a spin-off of an annual
“pig roast” that some members used to attend at Colorado-3. Colorado-1 has
also stepped up to the plate for the International in a lot of ways. The
Chapter hosted the Southwest Conference in 1997 and the International Convention
in Vail in 1999 and has supplied at least two delegates/representatives to the
Southwest Conference Board.
Considering the fact that Chapters 1 & 3 were the only chapters in the
state for quite a few years, it should be a real pleasure to all of Coilorado-1
Knights to see the chapter grow and even “spin off” members to form other Blue
Knights chapters. Pueblo
(Chapter 2) and Greeley (Chapter 9) were both started by Chapter 1 members.
There are now eight active chapters in the state. Chapter 4, which existed
in Lamar for a few years, folded.
Thanks for allowing me to continue to be a
part of this “family”. As always;
“Ride
with Pride”
Dick