If you love Colorado history, tune into the House of Representatives Monday morning where a former governor, every living speaker of the House and nearly two dozen other lawmakers will honor Bev Bledsoe, Colorado’s longest serving speaker.
The Hugo rancher and Republican served as the speaker from 1981 until 1990. As Colorado’s Front Range continued to grow, Bledsoe often said that he represented a minority — rural Colorado. He died in June at the age of 88.
“He cast a big shadow,” said former Gov. Dick Lamm, who described Bledsloe as “wickedly smart.”
The Speakers of the House who will be present for the tribute are, in order from the current officeholder back: Democrat Mark Ferrandino, Republican Frank McNulty, Democrat Terrance Carroll, Democrat Andrew Romanoff, Republican Lola Spradley, Republican Doug Dean, Republican Russ George, Republican Chuck Berry, who succeeded Bledsoe, Democrat Ruben Valdez and Republican John Fuhr, speaker from 1971 to 1974.
Former Gov. Roy Romer is expected to attend as well as former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and First Lady Wilma Webb, who both served in the House and former Denver Mayor Federico Pena, a Clinton cabinet secretary, who was the House minority leader.