Hile W. Goodrich

Born in Crawford, NE in the far northwest corner of the Nebraska Panhandle on July 24, 1931. He died February 1 at home in Arvada of complications from Parkinson's disease. He won a scholarship to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he studied journalism and worked at a Journal Star newspaper. He then went on to Stanford University in California on a fellowship where he earned a Master's degree in Journalism, followed by another fellowship at the University of Manchester in England, where he studied modern European history for a year. His next stop was at The Denver Post, where he worked for 32 years. He started as a reporter, working on the big stories of the day, including the kidnapping and murder of Adolph Coors III and the arrest and trial of some of the Smaldone crime family, a Denver gambling and racketeering organization. Goodrich worked his way through the desk to become The Post's executive news editor, a position that had him leading the editors who put the paper together every day, selecting the stories, laying out the pages, editing the copy and writing the headlines. He exercised an interest in public policy outside of The Post's newsroom and became deeply involved in the presidential campaign of then - Senator John F. Kennedy as it unfolded in the late 50's. He was the chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party in the late 60's. He was chairman of the Jefferson County District's Judicial Nominating Commission, a bipartisan commission that nominates persons to fill county and district judgeships. His early delight in sports cars gave way to family, in which he quickly instilled his love of Colorado's mountains. He taught himself, his wife Veronica (a Trinidad, CO native) and two daughters, Marta and Carla, to ski in the winter and packpack in the summer. ""Life with Dad was always an adventure"", said Carla Jackson. He also enjoyed sailing, travel and photography. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Veronica; daughters Marta Tanrikulu of Lafayette, CA and Carla Jackson of Westminster, CO; grandsons Dominic and Devon Jackson. Memorial Service to be held at 1pm on Monday, February 7, 2011 at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel located at 7577 West 80th Avenue in Arvada, CO. Reception to follow at Shrine of St. Anne's Parish Hall located at 7555 Grant Place. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave., Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1884, American Indian College Fund, 8333 Greenwood Blvd., Denver, CO 80221 or Dante Alighieri Scholarship Fund, 12795 W. 19th Pl., Lakewood, CO 80215. Please share your memories of Hile and condolences wit his family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" button.