Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter will be among the featured readers at the ninth annual "Words to Stir the Soul: Readings from the American West" events presented by the University of Colorado at Boulder's Center of the American West.
The programs will be held Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the LoDo Tattered Cover Book Store at 1628 16th St. in Denver and on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in Old Main Chapel on the CU-Boulder campus. Both are free and open to the public.
In addition to Hickenlooper, other readers at the Denver event, which has the special theme of "Scholars and Civil Servants," will include Colorado Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey, congressional candidate and Colorado Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Rick O'Donnell, state Sen. Ken Gordon and gubernatorial candidate and former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter.
Each will read segments from their favorite Western-inspired literature for up to five minutes each. The popular program celebrates the rich literary heritage of the American West.
" 'Words to Stir the Soul' has become a fine tradition," said center Faculty Director Patty Limerick. "The combination of fine writing, character-filled human voices, and devotion to the West has the power to lift every soul within hearing distance. And, as I point out every year, the enthusiasm for being read to continues throughout everyone's lifespan, even if the opportunities for sitting on someone's lap in your PJs and turning the pages may diminish."
Other readers in Denver will include Denver City Councilwoman Carol Boigon, the Denver mayor's liaison to the city council and former Denver City Council President Happy Haynes and CU-Denver history Professor Tom Noel, also known as "Dr. Colorado."
In addition to Olympic champion marathon runner Shorter, other readers in Boulder will include Daily Camera Editor Susan Deans and columnist Clay Evans, author Jerrie Hurd, Drs. Charles Scoggin and George Russell, author and retired CU-Boulder Professor Reg Saner, author and CU-Boulder law Professor Charles Wilkinson and others.
A reception will follow the Boulder event in the CU Heritage Center.
For more information call (303) 492-4879 or visit .