Globeville's Ben Dreith - NFL Referee

        As the 2024/25 NFL season is nearing its conclusion, fans have cheered their home-town teams, followed their favorite players and paid attention to certain officials. For many years, NFL referee Ben Dreith was recognized for his knowledge, fairness and adherence to the rules. Former director of NFL officials Art McNally said, "When Ben stepped onto the field the game was under control, no ifs, ands or buts about it. He was an outstanding referee."
        Benjamin Dreith was born in Globeville February 1, 1925 to Anna Marie and Johannes Dreith, who emigrated from the village of Beideck on the Volga River. With his three brothers and three sisters, he grew up in the neighborhood, attended Garden Place School and then North High School, where he excelled as an athlete.
        In World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving from June 1943 to March 1946 on the USS Teak in the Philippines. After the war, he graduated from the University of Northern Colorado (then known as Colorado State College) with a BA in Education, and lettered in three sports: football, basketball and baseball. In the 1950s Dreith played both semipro baseball and basketball in Denver.
        After college, Dreith taught physical education for 38 years in the Denver Public Schools, most of those at Lincoln High School His officiating career began at the high school level, and then the college ranks in the Skyline Conference, which became the Western Athletic Conference.
        In an article in the Rocky Mountain News Spotlight, January 25th, 1998, Dreith remembered, "In 1960 a friend called me and said 'How would you like to wrok professional football?' I said yeah and signed up with the American Football League (AFL). That's how things worked. Friends would call friends."
        When Dreith went to the professional ranks in the AFL, he was also teaching high school, and officiating high school and college level games. In 1996, the AFL merged with the National Football League (NFL), and the NFL restricted its officials to pro games only.
        During his NFL career, Dreith was awarded 27 post-season games, including eight Conference Championships, 13 Divisional Playoffs and two Pro Bowl games.        Getting to the Super Bowl was a mark of achievement for officials because the appearance was based on a rating system from the entire season. The officials with the highest ratings went to the Super Bowl, a coveted assignment awarded to Dreith four times.
        Dreith was not a fan of instant replay, which was introduced in 1986. "We'd stand there and wait and wait and wait, and then 96 percent of the time our call would stand." Also in 1986, Dreith issued one colorful, no-nonsense penalty call that was forever tied to his name. In a game between the Jets and the Bill, Jets' defensive tackle Marty started punching Bill's quarterback Jim Kelly after the play was over. Dreith threw his penalty flag, and with his robust baritone voice echoling through the stadium, he announced the most famous call in NFL history, "There's a personal foul on number 99 of the defense. After he tackled the quarterback, he's giving him the business down there. That's a 15-yard penalty."
        Dreith retired from both the NFL and from teaching in 1990. He was inducted in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. When he died on April 25, 2021, many of his former high school students posted memories to his obituary.
        "What an amazing guy. I loved his gym classes and his gruff exterior, but he had a funny side too. His officiating in the NFL was great to watch as well. I can't help but think of the many young lives he influenced over those many years, including mine." Roger Colburn, May 07, 2021

Former NFL referee Ben Dreith
Photo: Denver Public Library

Both Ben Dreith and the Denver Broncos made it
to the big leagues in 1960. Dreith wore number 53
and worked as a Line Judge in the 1960 season.
Mary Lou Egan, personal collection

Turkeys in Globeville

Before raising backyard chickens and geese was cool, it was common in Globeville. Flaunting city regulations, some families even kept a pig or cow. Youngsters raised rabbits to sell and learn not to form an attachment to a source of income.

Most residents also cultivated substantial gardens with beans, peas, tomatoes, onions, carrots and asparagus - and would "put up" the surplus to sustain them all winter. And there were peaches, cherries, pears and plums to preserve. Pickles were the best, though. Crock pickles, bread and butter slices, dill and sweet pickles - ah the aroma of pickles! 

Self sufficiency was borne of necessity, but there was a great deal of pride too. Nothing was wasted. 

Andy Jackson poses with the turkeys he raised in the 
back yard of his home on Sherman Street. 

Pickles were the best, all winter long

  

 

Peter Pan of the Preps - Globeville Sportswriter Manny Boody

Colorado newspapers were a really big deal in the 1940s and 50s, and sports coverage was also a big deal. Sports stories were covered in great detail, with lots of photos and colorful language. Sportswriters were minor celebrities, too and had their own nicknames. From the Rocky Mountain News, Chet Nelson was called the "Prophet of the Press Box" and Manny Boody was tagged the "Peter Pan of the Preps." Boody was also know as a "Bulldog for Details."

Manny Boody was born Manuel Budisavljevich in Trinidad, Colorado in 1913, the son of John and Ellen (Yelena) Budisavljevich, who were immigrants from Lika, Serbia. His father worked as a machinist in Tabasco, Colorado, a coal town that served the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company in Pueblo.

In 1915, the family moved to Globeville, where his father was employed in meat packing for the next 40 years. Boody and his brother Pete attended North High School and Manny eventually graduated from the University of Denver. His career as a sportswriter began at the Denver Post, but was interrupted by Pearl Harbor.  He returned to the Post after his service in the Army, but in 1948, he switched to the Rocky Mountain News. At the News, Boody covered high school sports while moonlighting as a scout for the Brooklyn, later Los Angeles, Dodgers.

In 1962, Boody was elected president of the Denver Press Club and served on the board with Gene Amole and Dusty Saunders. In 1990, he was named to the Colorado High School Association's (CHSA) Hall of Fame.

"Manny was the legend," said Bert Borgmann, assistant commissioner of the CHSA. No one knew more than Manny."

The CHSA's Hall of Fame remembered Manny Boody as . . . "one of the most popular and respected media persons ever associated with high school sports. . . Manny Boody covered prep sports for 30 years for the Rocky Mountain News. His personal attention to the students who played elevated him to a revered status within the prep community. Boody believed that as many names as possible needed to be in the newspaper to recognize those who played."

Manny Boody died on March 5, 1996 and is buried at Fort Logan.

Manny Boody in 1990
Photo courtesy of the Colorado High School Association

Homecoming at Holy Rosary • October 5th, 2024

This October 5th, Holy Rosary Church in Globeville will host our fourth "Homecoming" event.

If you've attended any of our previous gatherings, you know how much fun we had visiting and sharing memories. If you haven't been to Homecoming, you'll want to join us and invite your children and grandchildren to come with you.

We'll begin with Mass at 10:00 am in honor of the feast of Our Lady of Holy Rosary in our century-old church. There will be a few traditional Latin hymns (Can you remember the Tantum Ergo?), Slovenian and Spanish hymns. The stunning stained-glass windows, statues, and stations of the cross are a testament to the devotion of the church founders.

After Mass, we'll enjoy coffee, beverages, Potica, fruit and sandwiches while folks rekindle old friendships and make new ones. Bring those photos of First Communions, choirs, pageants, bingo night, posadas, quinceañeras, Our Lady of Guadalupe processions, pancake breakfasts and Christmas programs. Check out the 41 graduating classes from Holy Rosary School and see if you can find your relatives in them. Check out the classrooms - which teachers do you remember?

At our three previous Homecoming events, people shared their memories of teachers, classmates, events and antics in a video. There will be a video set up to record your favorite story about Holy Rosary!

Saturday, October 5th 2024 at Holy Rosary
4688 Pearl Street  •  Denver, CO 80216
Mass at 10:00 am  •  Refreshments, fellowship and sharing
RSVP (so we'll have enough food):
Mary Lou Egan  •  303-584-9812
maryloudesign@comcast.net

For updates, see www.holyrosarydenver.org
https://www.facebook.com/HolyRosaryChurchDenver

Orthodox Food Festival 2024

In 2003, the historic Holy Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Cathedral combined its annual church celebration with the neighborhood civic organization to put on the "Orthodox Food Festival and Old Globeville Days." It was a two-day extravaganza of ethnic food, entertainment, live bands, crafts, and games. The festival was featured in guide books as one of the best celebrations of Globeville's ethnic diversity.

In recent years, changes in Denver's city administration has resulted in the loss of Argo Park for the festival, with the celebration limited to Logan Street and the church property. COVID severely impacted the event.

In 2024, Transfiguration received a new dean Reverend Seraphim Robertson and the parish will again be hosting its festival celebration. 

Scan the QR code on the poster to receive updates on the activities. You'll want to take a tour of this historic church, built in 1898. The parishioners did much of the work themselves - this after putting in a ten or twelve hour day in a smelter or foundry. The incense, beeswax and stunning icons are a tribute to the faith of the founders and the dedication of the current congregation.

http://orthodoxfoodfestival.org/

 

See the stunning interior of Holy Transfiguration 

 

GES Open House

The GES Coalition works with residents in the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods on issues that impact these communities. This meeting will be held at the Globeville Recreation Center at 4496 Grant Street from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. This looks like a lot of information to cram in an hour and a half period, and the meeting ends before a lot of working folks can make it.

But these meetings usually have a moderator to keep thing moving, so you might pick the one project that affects you the most - like construction on Washington Street or the 44th Avenue Pedestrian improvements. (Are there sidewalks on 44th Avenue now?)

Take notes and ask questions.

 

Two Festivals to Celebrate in Globeville

Holy Rosary Bazaar, Sunday, August 18th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Church festivals are the BEST! And those in Globeville won't disappoint you. Holy Rosary will hold its parish bazaar on Sunday, August 18th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in the church parking lot and the space in front of the rectory. It's a tradition that dates to 1919 when the working class Slovenians and Croatians were trying to raise money to build their own church (a half a block away from St Joseph's Polish Church).

The first festival lasted four days and included plays, concerts, and an auction of livestock. The 2024 bazaar will feature enchiladas, soft tacos, gorditas, chilidrinas, hamburgers,hot dogs and Italian sausage sandwiches. There will be some Potica and pizzelles for sale at the Homecoming booth, (where you can find out about our Homecoming event in October).

A clown will amuse the kiddos, while the Heritage Irish Step Dancers, Aztec Dancers, Atravesados de la Sierra, and the amazing Banda "La Patrona" will get you moving. There will be crafts, and religious articles for sale, and a silent auction of gift baskets, too. Top it off with Karoke! 

Check our website:https:holyrosarydenver.org

or our facebook page: https://facebook.com/HolyRosaryChurchDenver

Lots of food choices!

A small selection of Potica

Banda La Patrona

St. Joseph's Polish Roman Catholic Church

One half block away from Holy Rosary Church is St. Joseph's Polish Church, whose red spire is visible from I-70. Dedicated in 1902, the parish has always had a Polish-speaking pastor and is a center of Polish faith and culture. Immerse yourself in all things Polish at the festival on Saturday August 24th, from noon to 9:00 pm, and Sunday, August 25th from noon to 5:00 pm.

Enjoy robust Polish craft beers, kielbasa, potato pancakes, cabbage rolls, pierogi, sauerkraut, and pastries.  Powisle, singers and dancers from Poland, and Krakowiacy Polish Dancers will perform traditional dances, the Amber Band and DJ SKI will provide dance music. Check out the Polish crafts and gifts. This is one festival you don't want to miss!

facebook.com/polishfoodfestival/

Krakowiacy Polish Dancers

It's the real deal - Pierogi

Polish guys admiring Polish sausage

Get off I-70 at Washington Street, head west on 47th Avenue