Bob Beauprez receives 2023 Boulder Distinguished Citizen Award – Bou…

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez was awarded this year’s Boulder Distinguished Citizen Award on Friday evening, putting him in the company of prominent Boulder figures spanning more than four decades.

At the 42nd Annual Boulder Distinguished Citizen Dinner, held at the St. Julien Hotel and Spa, Beauprez accepted the award, saying he was “quite humbled” when he was told he had been chosen.

“I really was feeling considerable pause just by the name of the award,” Beauprez said. “(I’m) lucky, for sure. Blessed, most certainly. But distinguished? Maybe not.”

In an interview with the Camera, Beauprez said, “I saw a list of … previous recipients. … And I didn’t know them all. But I knew a great many of them,” he said. “And many of them were mentors, friends, associates — a few of them who are role models, certainly. So I’m very humbled to be included in that same company as some people that I very much revere.”

The Boulder Distinguished Citizen Dinner also honored 2023 Boulder Distinguished Scout Connor Scott, a Fairview High School student; and 2023 Boulder Community Hero Nina Griffin, a volunteer with Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District. The yearly event is organized by the Adventure West Council of Boy Scouts of America, which serves Boulder County and Northern Colorado, and proceeds from the dinner help support the council.

Chrysti Britt, chair of the dinner, said the Distinguished Citizen Award is given to individuals who have shown “long-term commitment and contribution to the community, its people and its institutions.” The award has been given annually for 43 years, and past winners have included Bolder Boulder founder Steven K. Bosley (1991), former Boulder Mayor Leslie Durgin (1998) and former CU President Sandy Bracken (2001).

“We seek to choose people who have touched many lives in the Boulder community through their work and their contributions,” Britt said. “We are looking for someone who has demonstrated the Boy Scout’s principles of character, leadership, citizenship and community. Every person our committee nominates must be someone who noticeably lives these principles. Many have contributed to Boulder (and beyond) in most, if not all, of these areas and each of them have a strong reputation of giving back, whether through their local business, their philanthropy, their leadership, their volunteerism or their public service.”

One award winner is selected yearly by a committee. This year, Britt said, the committee unanimously chose Beauprez as the winner.

“Every step of his way was fueled by his desire to serve Boulder County and support its residents, whether it was through farming, real estate development or banking,” Britt said. “Even as a successful businessman, Mr. Beauprez followed a calling to public service, further demonstrating his desire to continue a life of service. While in Congress, he fought to support veterans and military issues as well as land projects that directly affected Boulder. Mr. Beauprez is the embodiment of citizenship and community.”

Beauprez, a two-time Republican gubernatorial candidate, was born and raised in Boulder and has lived in Boulder County for most of his life. Over the course of his career, he was a bank owner, a Congressman and a rancher. He and his wife, Claudia, now split their time between their home in Lafayette and their North Park ranch.