Joseph Kernan Weckbaugh, a Colorado native, was a tireless promoter for the state of Colorado and the city of Englewood. Weckbaugh was involved with many ventures, including forming the USO for Colorado; he is honored on the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. He notably brought Braniff Airlines to the Western Mountain District, but Weckbaugh is best known for his lifelong commitment to the Colorado banking industry. He bought the beleaguered First National Bank of Englewood in the late 1940s and founded the University Hills Bank, Lakeside National Bank and Security National Bank using these four banks to form the bank holding company of First Colorado Bankshares Inc., the first bank holding company in the 10th Federal Reserve District.
Nothing was more important to Weckbaugh than helping people. He was instrumental in founding Junior Achievement in Colorado and served as a member of the organizaiton’s first board of directors. He was active in many community charities, including Community Chest, which later became the United Way Fund, St. Joseph Hospital and the Catholic Church of Colorado. He was also a fundraiser for St. Mary’s Academy, Mullen High School and the J.K. Mullen Home for the Aged, Regis University and Regis Jesuit High School. He served on the Civic Advisory Council of Porter Memorial Hospital. Weckbaugh donated the Matchless Mine to serve as a museum.
Weckbaugh was an Honorary Trustee of Regis University, the University of Denver, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Loretto Heights College. He was president of the Board of Trustees of Kent School and was appointed a knight of St. Gregory by Pope John the XXIII.
Weckbaugh is the grandson of John Kernan Mullen, famed businessman, philanthropist and founder of the Colorado Milling and Elevator Company. Weckbaugh served as the Chairman and Director of the J.K. Mullen Investment Company. He was President of the J.K. Mullen Foundation and founded the Weckbaugh Foundation. He and his wife Anne Hunzicker had one daughter and three sons.
One thousand attendees paid tribute to the 2018 Colorado Business Hall of Fame laureates at the unforgettable 29th annual Colorado Business Hall of Fame induction celebration, presented by UMB Bank. The event was held on Jan. 25 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. View photos from the event>>
