"Words to Stir the Soul: Readings from the American West," will be presented by the CU-Boulder Center of the American West in Denver on Thursday, Aug. 30, and in Boulder on Friday, Aug. 31.
Among the featured readers will be University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman, Lakewood Mayor Steve Burkholder, CU-Denver history Professor Tom Noel and CU-Boulder history Professor Patricia Nelson Limerick.
The fifth annual CU-Boulder event will be held at 7 p.m. at the LoDo Tattered Cover Book Store at 1628 16th St. in Denver on Aug. 30, and with different readers and reading selections at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31, in the Old Main Chapel on the CU-Boulder campus.
The popular program celebrates the rich literary heritage of the American West as more than a dozen well-known community members, CU-Boulder professors and students read segments from their favorite western-inspired literature for up to five minutes.
On Aug. 30 in Denver the featured readers will include Sam Arnold, owner of The Fort restaurant in Morrison, Colo.; Hubert Farbes, attorney at Brownstein, Hyatt and Farber in Denver; John Hickenlooper, owner of the Wynkoop Brewery in Denver; Bill Hornby, former editor of The Denver Post; Joyce Meskis, owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store; Burkholder and Noel.
On Aug. 31 in Boulder, featured readers will include Hoffman, Dr. Charles Scoggin, founder of Medrock Inc. and several CU-Boulder faculty members. They will include Limerick; Ken Orona of ethnic studies; John-Michael Rivera of English; Brenda Romero of music; Eric Love of history; and Alphonse Keasley of the Minority Arts and Sciences Program.
A reception will follow the Boulder event in the CU-Boulder Heritage Center.
The program was inspired by the experience of a patient of Dr. Niles Utlaut of Boulder, who chose to undergo surgery that would either dramatically improve his eyesight or destroy it. When the surgery was a success, the exhilarated patient wanted to hold an event celebrating the ability to read.
The mission of the Center of the American West is to explore the distinctive character and issues of the region and to help Westerners become well-informed, participating citizens in their communities.
For more information call (303) 492-4879 or visit .
Editors: Farbes is cq in the fifth graf. The Farber in the firm name is a different person.