2015 SENATE MEMORIAL 15-001 BY SENATOR(S) Johnston, Balmer, Baumgardner, Carroll, Cooke, Crowder, Donovan, Garcia, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Hill, Hodge, Holbert, Jahn, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, Lambert, Lundberg, Marble, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Neville T., Newell, Roberts, Scheffel, Scott, Sonnenberg, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri, Woods, Cadman. MEMORIALIZING FORMER SENATOR REGIS GROFF. WHEREAS, Our respected former colleague, Senator Regis Groff, departed this life on October 5, 2014, at the age of 79; and WHEREAS, Senator Groff was born April 8, 1935, in Monmouth, Illinois, to Eddie Groff and Fenimore Thomas Groff; and WHEREAS, After graduating from Monmouth High School in 1953, Senator Groff served in the United States Air Force and was stationed with the Northeast Air Command in Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, until 1957 when he returned to Illinois to attend Western Illinois University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962; and WHEREAS, Senator Groff then moved to Denver and earned a Master's degree in Secondary Education, majoring in History, and taught American History, United States Government, and African American History for the Denver Public School system at Smiley Junior High School, Lake Junior High School, and East High School and served as an instructor in African American History at the University of Denver, the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and Metropolitan State College during the summer months; and WHEREAS, Senator Groff served as a state senator from 1974 to 1994, as the second African American state senator in Colorado history; and WHEREAS, After Senator Groff was elected for his first full four-year term in 1976, he was elected Senate Assistant Minority Leader by his colleagues and, in 1978 and in 1980, was chosen as Senate Minority Leader, becoming the first African American to hold those leadership positions; and WHEREAS, In 1977, Senator Groff joined 18 other African American state legislators to create the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and was president of that organization from 1990 to 1994; and WHEREAS, While in office, Senator Groff pushed Colorado to divest itself from business relationships with the apartheid regime of South Africa, lobbied for gun control, and persuaded the Colorado Senate to pass a bill making the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a state holiday; and WHEREAS, In 1994, Senator Groff left the Senate to assume the directorship of the Youthful Offender System, a multi-million dollar rehabilitation facility for violent juveniles; and WHEREAS, As Senator Groff's professional career advanced, he also served on numerous boards and commissions statewide, including as Vice President of the Denver Federation of Teachers (1968-1970), the National Black Caucus, and the Anti-Defamation League, and was an active member of the Shorter Community African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Campbell Chapel AME Church in Denver; and WHEREAS, Senator Groff traveled to many countries, including Nigeria, Germany, Jamaica, Israel, China, and South Africa, to work on a variety of important issues and received numerous civic and social awards, including the Legislator of the Year Award from the Associated Press, the Distinguished Service Citation from the United Negro College Fund, and the Coloradan Award presented by the Colorado Education Association; and WHEREAS, During the last years of his life, Senator Groff and his wife Callie Brownlee-Groff spent their time traveling, cruising the deep blue ocean, tutoring young students, playing golf, watching his beloved Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs, and continuing to contribute to his community through his work with the Colorado Black Round Table, the Aurora Housing Authority, and the Aurora Mental Health Center; and WHEREAS, Senator Groff will be remembered by colleagues like former U.S. Senator Mark Udall as "the conscience of the Colorado Senate and as a man who never backed down from a fight and always stood up for what he believed in", as well as by former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, who esteems Senator Groff as a "great teacher", a "dedicated family man", and a "true public servant" who served as "a voice for the voiceless" and "a defender of civil liberties, making sure that the constitution was for everyone"; and WHEREAS, Senator Groff will be remembered for his lifelong commitment to education and youth as well as his unwavering dedication to bettering the lives of those in his community; and WHEREAS, Senator Groff is survived by his wife, Callie; children James, Peter, and Traci; eight grandchildren; and his nieces and nephews; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventieth General Assembly of the State of Colorado: That, in the death of Senator Regis Groff, the people of the state of Colorado have lost a dedicated public servant and outstanding citizen, and that we, the members of the General Assembly, do hereby extend our deep and heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family and pay tribute to someone who served his state well and faithfully. Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Memorial be sent to Senator Groff's wife, Callie Brownlee-Groff, and his children, James Wallace, the Honorable Peter C. Groff, Traci L. Jones, and niece Amy M. Williamson-Barton. ____________________________ ____________________________ Bill L. Cadman Cindi L. Markwell PRESIDENT OF SECRETARY OF THE SENATE THE SENATE