Movers and shakers in Durango and La Plata County were abundant at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Durango last week for The Hundred Club of Durango’s 49th annual banquet.
But the real stars of the evening were the servicemen and servicewomen protecting the community, and the Parks family, who endured tragedy, set the whole community support system into motion.
The Hundred Club of Durango was formed after a downtown fire in 1974 took the lives of two servicemen, Nick Parks and Gale Emerson. Both first responders left behind pregnant widows expecting children for the first time.
The convention represented a changing of the guard, where Eric Jones, the new Hundred Club president, and other officers were introduced to the community.
And it was a celebrated farewell to founding members Don Mapel and Dr. Forrest Dean Brown, complete with letters of recognition from Durango Mayor Melissa Youssef, La Plata County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton and Democratic Colorado Rep. Barbara McLachlan.
The club collects membership fees and donations in order to assist the families of first responders who are killed or maimed in action. It also gives kids of first responder families college scholarships to support people and perpetuate its mission.
“We help those that are killed or injured in the line of duty. That’s our primary purpose and focus. Because we realize that when tragedy hits, it’s difficult … When something tragic happens, for us to be responsive and have money in the family's hands within 72 hours, it’s huge,” Jones said.
2023 scholarship recipients attending Fort Lewis College and other institutions of higher education were named during the banquet, and a number of officers from area police and fire departments were given recognition as well.
Emily Deming, a FLC student and daughter of FLC Police Chief Brett Deming, said she is thankful for the scholarship she received.
“That was really terrifying and exciting. But I wouldn’t be able to experience any of that without the Durango Hundred Club … It allows me to go through college without worrying as much about financials,” she said.
Loretta Parks, 74, the widow of Nick Parks who died in the 1974 fire, said the Hundred Club of Durango benefits families of first responders financially, but it also serves as a foundation for new friendships and is an engine that keeps the community running.
Parks’ daughter, Nicki Parks, said her first thought regarding a local tragedy is “Thank god for the Hundred Club.”
Speaking from experience, she said the first thing a family suffers after a tragedy is grief and sadness. Funding a funeral and other factors also cause extra stress for grieving families.
Loretta Parks said Nick Parks had a “quirky smile” and was a trickster.
Nicki Parks was born the following October. Despite never knowing him, she appreciates the legacy he left behind.
“I love that that kind of club is formed in this tiny, tight-knit community,” she said. “ … I think it is an amazing club.”
Jones said over 50 students have received scholarships from the club since its inception, which amounts to over $230,000 paid to dependents of first responders.
Scholarships this year include:
- Adam Brown, attending Fort Lewis College. His father is in the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, Dean Brown.
- Avery Wickes, attending FLC. Father is Captain Wickes with Durango Fire Protection District.
- Emily Deming, daughter of Chief Brett Demming, attending FLC. Father is Police Chief Brett Deming.
- Christopher Smith, LPCSO Sheriff Shawn Smith's son, attending FLC.
- Kaleb Lee, attending Texas A&M University. Father is Jeremiah Lee, who passed away in 2017.
- Madyson Current, attending Brigham Young University. Father is DPD deputy chief Bryce Current.
- Jamie Hitti, attending Oakland University in Michigan. Father is Todd Hitti with LPCSO.
- Parker Aronson, attending the University of Colorado. Father is DFPD Capt. Mike Aronson.
- Garrett Baker, attending Stevenson University in Maryland. Father is DFPD Battalion Chief Randy Baker.
Durango Fire Protection District lost two men in under a week last year; fire training captain Scott Gallagher, 49, and search and rescuer Leo Lloyd, 60. Chief and deputy chief Hal Doughty and Randy Black paid their respects onstage at the banquet.
cburney@durangoherald.com
A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the late Nick Parks III’s name and mistakenly identified Michael Bitsuie, Jordyn Parks’ boyfriend, as a member of the Parks family.
