Grand Junction was fun, and Don found a lot of
interesting
jobs in addition to the newspaper work. 
He
was on the board of the National Junior College Baseball Tournament
Committee. In May 1962 he joined Sigma Delta Chi, and remains a
member to this day. Sigma Delta Chi over the years evolved into
The Society of Professional Journalists.
He did radio play-by-play for the college teams,
worked with the university sports programs, got very involved in
the Grand Junction Eagles semi-pro baseball team (run by Sam Suplizio), and made his
first trips to Alaska with them. The picture to the
right is the Grand Junction Eagles Team in Fairbanks, 1965, their second
trip up.
Don began
working as a bird-dog baseball scout for pro teams. Claude
"Dutch" Dietrich was his mentor. He was with
the Houston Colt-45's,
and then the Atlanta Braves. He was a dapper little old man who wore spats and
always dressed in a suit. When he would come to town
there was usually a box of candy for Ann.
Ann mostly took care of the two little boys. They were active in church and both just enjoyed
life, caring for each other and their little family.
Grand Junction was all happy
memories - the town, the job, but mostly, the people!
Every morning a large group would meet at the La Court Hotel for
coffee and to solve the problems of the world, hosted by hotel
owner, Bud Buthorn! Don had more close friends in Grand
Junction than in any other place they lived! Sam
Suplizio remained a lifelong friend, even playing with the Alaska
Goldpanners baseball team in two National Tournaments. If
there had been a 4-year college there, they would not have left, but
Don wanted to complete his degree.
|
Click to enlarge this picture and
when it comes up,
click again to make it even larger to see faces.
Under the letter "B" is Bud Buthorn and his son.
The crowd is Daily Sentinel employees in August 1963,
Daily Sentinel Night at Lincoln Park Stadium which
later was named for Sam Suplizio. |
|
Left: Preston Walker, owner and publisher of
the Daily Sentinel;
Red Boucher bringing the Alaska Goldpanners to Grand
Junction
the first time; Joe Lacy, Grand Junction City
Manager in 1963. |
|
1963 - Gay Johnson, owner of restaurants and service
stations in Colorado;
Bill Foster, later a Judge, who supported the Grand
Junction Eagle Baseball Team. |
2008
Dianna Jensen and Lynn Lickers,
from the Grand Junction Sentinel, just sent some incredible photos
of the newspaper building and downtown Grand Junction as it was when
Don and Ann lived there. Click on the photos to enlarge them
greatly. A second click after they come up enlarges the
downtown picture even more.
The Daily Sentinel as it was in 61-64.
The Newspaper was owned by Preston Walker.
An amazing huge picture of downtown Grand Junction
in the early 1960's when they were beautifying the
downtown area. Don and Ann remember that well.
Thank you so much Dianna and
Lynn!
Enlarge with a click.... very recognizable people in crowd, 1963
Cliff Parker and Don Dennis covering Sports for the Daily Sentinel.
Behind in stands: Dick Reimer, to the right: Mike Bennett
click to see a crowd scene from the
1962 High School
Wrestling Tournament in Gr Jct.
In 1964 Don decided they should return to Pueblo, so
he could complete his college courses at Pueblo College, now
a 4-year college, Southern Colorado State College. The
Pueblo Chieftain hired him again. Don and Denver Sports
Writer, Irv Moss, were partners in Colorado Sports Publications, which
produced game programs and sports newsletters statewide, working out of
a hotel in Denver. He served
on the Pueblo Runyon Field Baseball Committee, on the Colorado All-State
Games Committee and was active in the Association of the United States
Army.
