By Dan Bickhard, President of the Board of Directors
In 2024, the Denver Athletic Club celebrates its 140th anniversary. Founded in 1884, our Club’s strength stands as a testament to this city’s enduring spirit. It is fitting, then, that we take a moment to celebrate our place among that legacy.
Six years after our Club’s founding and about six blocks to our northeast, the University Club of Denver was founded in 1891. That iconic institution has been a fellow cornerstone of Denver society for nearly as long as The DAC has stood. Temple Buell, a visionary architect, real estate developer and entrepreneur, left his mark in Denver as the namesake of the Buell Theatre, Buell & Company and the Temple Buell Foundation. Remarkably, at the age of 25, Buell also designed the College Room in The University Club, setting the stage for a tradition that continues to captivate Members to this day.
This past January, in that same College Room, I was joined by 20 fellow DAC Members to attend the University Club’s 12th Night production, at the invitation of their Membership. These annual shows, characterized by good-spirited lampooning, serve as a humorous and cherished reflection of local, national, and international events from the previous year. I was honored to attend and am even more honored to announce the official start of our reciprocal relationship with the U Club, whicb began February 1. As a Member of The DAC you now have access to the University Club during this reciprocal experience to enjoy their events, cuisine and wonderful members. I think you, like me, will find we have many kindred spirits over there.
In 1883, the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody brought his first Wild West Show to Denver, marking a pivotal moment in the city’s narrative. Wells Fargo’s innovation in managing money and the Union Pacific Railroad connecting the east and west coasts through the Colorado Territory, fueled by silver and gold, played a significant role in the growth of our city during this time. Fast forward to 1906 and the founding of the National Western Stock Show, an institution that also endures as evidenced by the enjoyment of several Members who joined The DAC event to the Stock Show last month.
As we look ahead to the spring, we eagerly await our annual Boxing Night, a beloved Denver tradition with deep roots. About 100 years ago, Colorado-born boxer Jack Dempsey left an indelible mark as the Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1919. Hailing from Colorado, Dempsey earned the title of “The Manassa Mauler”, a nod to his birthplace in Manassa, Colorado. His journey to the pinnacle of boxing reflects the spirit of resilience and determination engrained in this state. When he became a Colorado icon, he was showcasing not only his skill but also the tenacity that defines the spirit of the West.
The DAC’s Boxing Night, scheduled for March 15, 2024, will once again pay homage to the sport that witnessed Dempsey’s ascendancy. And, there’s more. In 2008, Terence Crawford made his boxing debut at The DAC with Boxing Promoter Jim “Smitty” Smith of Poor Boys Boxing who brought the professional fighter for the St. Paddy’s Day Punch-Out. Crawford has held multiple world championships in three weight classes and earned the title of Fighter of the Year. As DAC Members gather for this longstanding event this March, the echoes of Dempsey, Crawford and Smitty’s legacies will intertwine with our lasting traditions.
The DAC. The University Club of Denver. Buffalo Bill. Temple Buell. Jack Dempsey. The National Western Stock Show. Together, these institutions embody a city that has evolved from a Cowtown into a thriving metropolis. I am reminded of the words of Arthur Chapman’s poem, “Out Where the West Begins” (1917) which paints a vivid picture of the town I’m proud to call home, and a town where The DAC stands tall. In Denver where “the handclasp’s a little stronger…the smile dwells a little longer…the sun is a littler bright…and the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter”, legacies unfold.
The DAC and our fellow legacies stand as pillars of a city that began its journey in the heart of the West—a place where friendships are forged effortlessly, and the West truly begins.