We're recognizing Women's History Month by showcasing notable women who have made an impact on our station!

Ann D. Love

Ann D. Love (1914-1999), former first lady of Colorado when her husband, John Love, was governor from1963 to 1973. She was a member of the Rocky Mountain PBS Governing Board from 1978 to 1985, and served as its Chair from 1982 to 1985. 

Mrs. Love was instrumental in saving the Molly Brown House and establishing Historic Denver – its website saying that “she garnered support for projects she felt were essential to making Colorado and Denver one of the country’s best places. “
Patricia Schroeder

U.S. Representative Patricia Schroeder (1st District of Colorado, 1973-1997). 
The honorable Patricia Schroeder was a friend of public broadcasting, supporting continued funding from the Federal government, as well as helping Rocky Mountain PBS win a $530,298 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce for building our Grand Junction station, KRMJ.  Ms. Schroeder appeared in 2013 as one of a number of women pioneers of the women’s movement in a three-hour PBS documentary, "Makers." 

Mrs. Bird

Mrs. Bird, a human-costumed character, made her local debut in 1969 as Big Bird’s (Sesame Street) mother. Originally designed and built by Artha Frickel and Beverly Potter, Mrs. Bird became a beloved ambassador for Channel Six, and later the other stations in Rocky Mountain PBS. She was joined by three additional bird mascots in 1971 – Amanda Suellen Ostrich, Olive Owl, and Wilber Weird Bird. Because of their success, the birds attended the National Friends of Public Broadcasting Convention in New Orleans in the spring of 1972.  

Gwen Ifill

Gwendolyn L. "Gwen" Ifill (1955-2016) was an award-winning journalist and author. In 1999, she became the first African American woman to host a nationally televised U.S. public affairs program, Washington Week, a PBS program. Then in 2013, the PBS NewsHour named Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff as co-anchors and co-managing editors. During the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Ifill taped Washington Week with Gwen Ifill, which attracted a packed house at DU’s Gates Auditorium and a successful reception for Cornerstone Society members featuring Gwen and her panelists.

Susan Birch

Susan Birch was honored by Rocky Mountain PBS with the 2011 Be More Award at the fifth annual Rocky Mountain PBS NewsMakers Luncheon. Ms. Birch was recognized for ensuring a more inclusive and pragmatic health care system, facilitating the delivery of critical health services to the poor and underserved. Through her leadership at the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, she pioneered a model for providing health care in rural communities. Ms. Birch also spearheaded the implementation of the Aging Well program. 

Judy Collins 

Judy Collins is a well-known singer and songwriter of folk, country, and pop music.  She has helped PBS by making productions used for pledge drives.  As a proud Denver native, Ms. Collins has appeared in on-air spots promoting membership in Rocky Mountain PBS. 

Dana Crawford 

Dana Crawford is a well-known real estate developer in Denver and wider Colorado who in the 1960s pioneered the first urban renewal project in Denver: Larimer Square.  To date, Ms. Crawford has preserved and repurposed more than 800,000 square feet of historic property. Among the many awards recognizing her achievements, she was recently featured in an episode of Colorado Experience – an original series produced by Rocky Mountain PBS. 

Holly Arnold Kinney 

Holly Arnold Kinney is a long-time supporter of Rocky Mountain PBS. She is a cookbook author and the owner of the famous Morrison, CO restaurant, The Fort, having inherited it from her father, Sam Arnold. In 2011, Holly did a live performance in the Rocky Mountain PBS studio during a fundraising drive, preparing some of her father’s favorite recipes. 

Patricia Harrison 

Patricia Harrison is the president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Aside from directing federal funds to nearly 1,500 public radio and television stations and producers across the United States. Ms. Harrison showed particular support for Rocky Mountain PBS by appearing as guest speaker at the 2013 NewsMaker Luncheon in Denver. 
Patty Limerick, Ph.D. 

Patty Limerick is a Professor and the Faculty Director of the Center of the American West at the University of Colorado. In her role as the Colorado State Historian, Dr. Limerick appears in many of the episodes of Colorado Experience, offering expert commentary on people, places, and events in our state’s history.