CFN History       

A SHORT HISTORY OF COLORADANS FOR NEBRASKA 

The earliest evidence of the existence of the Denver Chapter of the University of Nebraska Alumni Association (now known as Coloradans for Nebraska) is a listing of Edmund J. Churchill, `85, as president in 1913.  

There is no one who can tell us today what the organization was like in those early years. But since the early 1950’s CFN has participated in many functions like a Founders' Day dinner in February or March, summer family picnics, a party the night before the Colorado-Nebraska game every other year when it was played in Boulder, Alumni Night at the Rockies and special performances of the Scarlet and Cream.  In the 1960’s, biennial migrations to Lincoln aboard the Denver Zepher were planned for the Colorado-Nebraska game. 

In the `50s and '60s the officers and past presidents got together at a party the month before the Founders' Day dinner and finalized a slate of officers to be installed at Founders' Day.  

Many past presidents have continued to be very active. A great example of that was Harold Hunt, president in 1952, who continued on the Board as Director of Athletic Affairs until he died in 1996. In the `50s and '60s Harold would get a thousand tickets to the Colorado-Nebraska football game from CU for CFN members. 

In the early years, the Nebraska football games were broadcast on a radio on a station owned by a Nebraska alum. When he sold the station in the late '70s, it was up to CFN to locate another station and the means to pay for broadcasts. At first, faithful Husker alumni with businesses bought advertising to pay for the charges. Gradually the membership took over that expense through their yearly donations. For most of those years, the games were on KLMO 1060 Longmont. 

Before so many of the Nebraska games were on TV, a major activity of CFN was the weekly showing of the game films.  The film was flown from Scottsbluff (where it was shown, on Thursdays) and then shown in Denver on Fridays. Beginning in 1990 CFN has hosted TV Watch Parties on game days at various Sports Bars.

The chapter dues were $1.00 for an individual alum and $1.50 for an alumni couple until 1969 when they became $2.00 for either. In 1979 they were raised to $3.00 and in 1983 to $5.00. In 1996 the Founders' Day dinner at the Fitzsimons Officers Club cost CFN members $3.75!  Membership has increased from about 100 in 1949 and 300 in 1961 to over 1,000. 

In 1981 the name of the chapter was changed to Coloradans for Nebraska and membership was opened to Nebraska fans as well as alumni members. In 1983 the CFN logo was redesigned to include a snow capped "N".

The premier CFN event was the biennial pre-game Pizza Party on the night before the Nebraska-Colorado game in Boulder. Every other year going back to the 1982, a party featuring Valentino’s pizza was held at a local hotel. Several hundred husker fans gathered together for a great time at these pre-game parties.  In 1980 and 1987 Bob Devaney was the featured speaker. The final Pizza Party was held in 1995.  More than 1,000 Husker fans attended that event.  The following year the Nebraska-Colorado game was changed from the traditional last Saturday in October to the Friday following Thanksgiving and the event was no longer held.   

For many years CFN held a Founders' Day event.  Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne and other notable University representatives served as guest speakers over the years. 

Beginning in 1989 CFN began funding scholarships for graduates of a Colorado High school wishing to attend the University of Nebraska. Money raised through various raffles and from membership contributions has helped CFN to provide two $1,000 scholarships to incoming freshmen and to create an endowment that funds a $1,000 Junior and $1,000 Senior scholarship. 

CFN communication has evolved through the years from simple announcements of events to a wide range of information for CFN members through newsletters, emails and a website.