David Delaplane

CMC Founding Father / Honorary Member

In 1962, David Delaplane became manager of the Glenwood Springs Chamber of Commerce. During his time in that role, he was responsible for bringing the idea of having a community college in the central Colorado mountains. Delaplane resurrected an education committee that pounded the pavement to sell voters on establishing a five-county taxation district consisting of Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, Lake, and Summit counties.

“Night after night for a year,” David explains, “we traveled miles to meet with every service group in every community to show everyone how important it was to have a junior college.”

There was a lot of convincing to do. Three counties would not get a campus, yet their approval was needed. By a margin of more than 2 to 1, voters approved the formation of the junior college district that would be home to Colorado Mountain College. Delaplane was elected to the first governing committee of the college.

Thank you, David Delaplane, for carrying forward the idea of a college in the central Colorado Rocky Mountains into the reality we know today as Colorado Mountain College.