Having been in the Arapahoe County community for over four-decades The Villager staff has observed many great citizens, public servants, health care providers, city council members, county commissioners, schoolteachers and administrators, chamber members, and service club leaders.
There have been two visionary community builders that stand out over the past 40 years. George Wallace on the DTC side of I-25 and John Madden on the West side. Wallace now gone, but not forgotten, will be remembered for his development of a business center located close to an airport with excellent housing and schools. A pilot, Wallace would take his twin-wing biplane and do loops over vacant lands surrounding now Centennial Airport. My last luncheon with George, in his office, found him on oxygen smoking a cigarette and expounding on how dangerous it was for him to travel to downtown Denver.
Across I-25 we have the last visionary of the past century of our communities located in Greenwood Village. The Madden footprint is far and wide, deeply imbedded in area history. John Madden is back home after rotating time between Greenwood Village and Florida. He celebrates his 94th birthday April 12. The Villager newspaper has been a good neighbor with Madden for over four decades. We have had countless headlines about his good works; his leadership for The Boy Scouts of America, his support for The University of Denver, gifting them major portions of his prized art collection.
We have the Museum of Outdoor Art now located back near Fiddler’s Green in Greenwood Village from a former location in Englewood. John’s family has been instrumental in all of the growth and development of the Madden Corporation.
The new entertainment district, established in Greenwood Village and located directly west of I-25 is fast becoming a hub of entertainment, recreation, and dining facilities, all encircling the Madden created Fiddler’s Green concert facility. Decades ago, Villager photographer Jim Pilon, and I, strolled around massive grassy hillsides that would become Fiddler’s Green. It was John’s vision to build this entertainment complex surrounded by many of his majestic buildings. We were honored to print the early day Fiddler’s Green programs for award-winning concert promoter, Barry Fey, who lived in nearby Cherry Hills Village. Villager staff member Freda Miklin relates that as a young women she worked as an accountant in Barry Fey’s Fiddler’s Green onsite office and baby sat one of his sons in a corner playpen. Barry’s son, Jeremy, is now serving his second term as mayor of Central City. Jim Dixon, revered minister of Cherry Hills Community Church, held his Easter Services in the Madden facility for two decades. We marveled how Jim could recite those lengthy bible verses by memory.
The Greenwood Athletic Club, now Club Greenwood, is another creation of the Madden company and is one of the finest athletic clubs in America. The club presently expanding the food and beverage department. This facility is the hub for area residents to stay healthy and enjoy suburban lifestyle among friends.
In very recent years John Madden was participating in an effort to restore his magnificent Metropolitan Club that he founded in the 1980s, which was managed by the marvelous Jan Top, who knew the first names of the 1000 club members. The Italian marble floors were unique, the Italian decorum special, and holiday buffets were magnificent. Mort and Edie Marks, board members, would have a special table for their friends and family. The club eventually befell victim to new greedy landlords who raised the rent to intolerable levels. The club closed after decades of enjoyment for members and guests.
The recent effort to restore the Metropolitan Club almost became a reality, but the economy, changes in the Madden company, and lack of membership support and participation halted the project. We extend our extreme thanks to Scottie Iverson, who worked so diligently to restore the club. She once worked for John and has authored our section to honor John’s accomplishments.
Madden spent some winters on St. Isabel Island in Florida, He had recently decided to move back full time to Denver. On the day that his home was to be sold a hurricane wrecked the island and his residence.
Now, headquartered in his penthouse in Greenwood Village, he conducts daily business there and with his assistant Kathi. He is surrounded by caring family members and is in good health.
On occasion, Madden, his assistant Kathi, and myself will enjoy a martini and a good lunch together. We love to talk about the good old days, his two dogs, Mayor Nancy Sharpe’s great leadership, and many of his lifetime projects. Most recently he assisted CEO Robin Wise in finding a new home for Junior Achievement and making a generous land concession to make her new building successful on former Madden property. JA teaches high school students about free enterprise and business acumen – traits of Madden that led The Villager to name John Madden “Our Man Of The Century.”
Happy Birthday John!