William Dean Singleton was lauded Thursday night during the Mizel Museum’s Community Cultural Enrichment Award dinner for the many hats he wears in supporting
his community, but friends say his favorite hat is of the cowboy variety. Mayor John Hickenlooper and Gov. Bill Ritter, the masters of ceremony, gave The Denver Post’s owner and publisher a good-natured ribbing. Ritter called Singleton “the man who beats the crap out of me every day in his newspaper.” But, as the governor listed the honoree’s many accomplishments, he added, “You may not know Dean is a man who loves and respects his governor,” to the laughter of the audience of more than 1,800 at the $10,000-a-table charity fete at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. The award honors those who have contributed to the arts in Colorado, and past winners have included Hickenlooper, former Gov. Bill Owens and first lady Frances Owens, former Gov. Roy Romer and brewing magnate Pete Coors. Speakers read letters from President Barack Obama, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
“This prestigious honor is richly deserved,” the governor read from Obama’s letter.