Milton E. Proby Cultural Heritage Room

In 2005, as an extension of the Emerging Leaders Program, El Pomar established the Milton E. Proby Cultural Heritage Room at Penrose House. This room is dedicated to preserving and documenting the contributions of African-American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino and Native American individuals from Southern Colorado. Reverend Proby was one of the first civil rights leaders to have profound influence in the campaign for equality in southern Colorado.

2011 Native American Civic Leader Nomination Application

2012 Asian American Civic Leader Nomination Application

MEP Selection Committee Documents

Milton Proby Heritage Room Selection Committee Program Description

2011 MEP-SWOT

2012 Selection Committee Confirmation Form

2012 MEP - Operations and Logistics Checklist

2012 MEP - Asian American Civic Leader Induction Ceremony Timeline

MEET THE INDUCTEES

Senator Casimiro Barela: Barela was born in Embudo, New Mexico and, at the age of 20, moved to Trinidad, Colorado where he began his political career in 1869 as justice of the peace. Throughout his life, he held many city, county and state offices, including county assessor, county sheriff, and Denver counsel for the Republics of Mexico and Costa Rica. A strong advocate for Colorado’s statehood, he worked to ensure that the state’s constitution was written not only in English but also in Spanish and German at the constitutional convention of 1875. During his many terms in the state senate, he supported voting rights for women, the establishment of Columbus Day as a holiday in 1907 and New Mexico’s request for statehood. He is one of only 16 people honored in the Rotunda of the State Capital building, where a stained glass portrait of him is displayed.

Lucian Amos “Sac” Jamison: Lucian Amos “Sac” Jamison (1920-1999) displayed an unwavering commitment to his country, his heritage, and his community. He was an athlete, serviceman and, above all, a role model for people of all ethnicities. Jamison was born a full blooded Seneca-Cayuga of the Iroquois Nation in Grove, Oklahoma in 1920. At the Age of 16 he qualified for the United States Olympic boxing team and Competed in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. In 1941 Jamison Joined the United States Army and Fought in the South Pacific during World War II as a member of the renowned Alamo Scouts. Jamison received numerous awards for his military service, including two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Following his military career, Jamison settled in Manitou Springs where he served his community by educating and inspiring young people. More than 400 youngsters knew Jamison as a dedicated Boy Scouts leader and he helped many of them obtain the rank of Eagle Scout. Mr. Jamison received several awards recognizing his service to the scouting movement, including the Scouter’s Key, Silver Beaver Award, and the Order of the Arrow. To honor his heritage and pay tribute to his devotion, a camp site at Camp Alexander in Lake George, CO is named for Jamison. He left a lasting legacy as a strong advocate for Native American youth in the Pikes Peak region, by establishing several organizations to advance Native Americans through education, scholarships, and the understanding and perpetuation of Native American culture.

Andy Chun Song: Andy Chun Song (1948-2007) was a community leader who demonstrated with his words and actions how ethnic minorities could have a profound impact on the Pikes Peak area through broad-based civic engagement. A native of South Korea, Song graduated from Yonsei University and was a four- Year Veteran of the South Korean Air Force. He immigrated to the United States in 1976 and Settled first in Baltimore before moving to Colorado Springs in 1985. A Successful Businessman who excelled in the real estate Arena, Song helped ensure that small business owners with diverse ethnic backgrounds were able to compete on a level playing field in Colorado Springs. Song held numerous leadership positions in both the Colorado Springs and Korean communities. He was the President of the Korean Catholic Church Parish Council for more than 20 years and twice served as President of the Korean Chamber of Commerce. Song was also director of the Korean Language School. He volunteered as an interpreter for the Colorado Springs Police Department and was a member of the police chief’s Community Leaders Advisory Board and the Chancellor’s Minority Advisory Committee at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Song's varied community contributions are connected by a single theme. He made a difference as an advocate for equality through his dedication to the values of honesty, integrity and hard work.

Fannie Mae Duncan: Fannie Mae Duncan (1918-2005) was a philanthropist, community activist and entrepreneur who helped integrate Colorado Springs peacefully through her visionary approach to business. She established the Cotton Club, a downtown nightclub, as a destination for African-Americans to enjoy firsthand the greatest black entertainers of the 1950’s and 1960’s. The Cotton Club evolved into a symbol of hope. At a time when most businesses were segregated, Fannie Mae hired waitresses of all ethnicities and received guests of all colors. She eventually earned widespread support for her philosophy of inclusion from unlikely sources, including the local police chief. A sign in the Club’s window summed up Duncan’s philosophy: “EverybodyWelcome.” Fannie Mae responded with typical flair when the Cotton Club’s famous black performers were barred from the city’s fine hotels. She purchased a historic Victorian mansion as her personal residence and opened it to icons like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Duncan’s home became a showplace for the entire community. Fannie Mae Duncan was born in Luther, Oklahoma and moved to Colorado Springs with her family in 1933. In recognition of her many accomplishments, she was inducted into the Colorado Springs High School Hall of Fame and received the Pikes Peak Blues Community Lifetime Achievement Award and the Black Womanhood Award Fannie Mae Duncan

Eva Raigoza Baca: Eva Raigoza Baca (1929-2007) believed in the potential of every child to succeed, and sought to share her love of learning everywhere she went. Baca’s example motivated Eastwood Heights, a neighborhood on the east side of Pueblo, to improve itself through books, education, and a thirst for knowledge. The child of two Mexican immigrants, Baca began her studies later than many other students. Widowed at 32, she turned to education to secure a brighter future for herself and her two young children. Baca’s tireless efforts earned her not only a college degree from Southern Colorado State, but also a master’s from Adams State College and a principal’s certification from the University of Wyoming. She was appointed principal of Eastwood Elementary School in 1972. After being named principal, Baca did not waste any time making a name for herself in the community. She not only began improvements within her school but was influential in improving the overall quality of life in the Eastwood Heights neighborhood. Literacy was her primary vehicle for change, but close behind was her invaluable mentorship to students, parents, new teachers, and community members. Baca’s involvement in countless philanthropic efforts earned her recognition from the U.S. Department of Education, and a Latino Lifetime Achievment Award. But perhaps most significantly, Baca’s beloved Eastwood Elementary was renamed Eva R. Baca Elementary School, in honor of the woman whose legacy continues to live on in the people she inspired.

ABOUT MILTON E. PROBY

Rev. Dr. Milton E. Proby (1929-2005) dedicated his life to uplifting racial relations and serving the needs of the poor in Colorado Springs. As senior pastor of St. John’s Baptist Church from 1958 until his death in May 2005, Rev. Proby was a powerful and positive influence in southern Colorado. Inspired by the words of his friend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Proby worked diligently to bring to reality that dream, “that we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”

During his 47 years in Colorado Springs, Rev. Proby actively championed the cause of all people facing issues of inequality and injustice in southern Colorado. As special adviser to three Colorado governors and a founding member of both Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission and the Colorado Springs Human Relations Commission, Rev. Proby dedicated his life to uplifting racial relations.

His dedication to justice extended to issues of hunger and poverty as well as culture and race. In 1988, Rev. Proby founded the St John’s Food Bank, which continues to feed thousands of people throughout the city. Before becoming the voice of the civil rights in Colorado Springs, he served six years in the United States Army, and acted as a civilian liaison to commanding generals at Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, and Peterson Air Force Base.

In recognition of his commitment and St. John’s service to Colorado Springs, Rev. Proby received numerous awards and public recognitions from civic and governmental organizations. In 2003, he was named a “Living Legend” by the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and named one of the “Most Influential People” in Colorado by The Gazette. In 2004, The Colorado College presented him with the Community Diversity Award, and the El Paso County Bar Association granted him special recognition. Rev M. E. Proby was honored nationally when the United States Government flew the flag over the Capitol in honor of his contributions to creating an equal society.

The Milton E. Proby Cultural Heritage Room pays tribute to Rev. Proby’s enduring legacy and his example of fellowship and unity across cultural boundaries.