Judith B. Henning

Judith Marie Henning was born in Louisville, KY on Dec. 25, 1936 to Retha and Chester Bower. She died in her Denver home on Jan. 26 after a short illness. She spent most of her youth in Houston, TX with her family, including brother Paul and sister Miriam. She moved to Colorado in 1954 to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder where she graduated with a BA in Journalism and was named Outstanding Senior Woman.

She began her professional life as a journalist, working for the Boulder Daily Camera and later for Hawai’i Press Newspapers as a reporter and editor. She returned to Colorado and worked as an editor for the Colorado Municipal League where she met her second husband, Charles Henning.

Judy’s political career began when she was elected as the first woman to the Englewood City Council in 1972. She became the first female mayor in January 1974 but was recalled in a special election in June that year after residents became concerned about a proposed redevelopment plan for the city that included a mix of retail, housing and hotels.

She was appointed to the Colorado Commission on the Status of Women by Colorado Governor Richard Lamm and served as chair in 1977. The commission was created to advance women’s issues and the group worked to put the Equal Rights Amendment in the state constitution by legislative act.

In 1978, she sought the nomination for Colorado Lt. Governor and in 1983 served as the Colorado Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman. She was a delegate to two Democratic National Conventions in 1980 and 1984.

Judy was a long-term member and president of the Women’s Forum. The group was chartered in 1976 to bring together Colorado women of significant and diverse accomplishments to support the professional development and empowerment of women.

In 1989, she became president of the Colorado Beer Distributors Association, where she worked until retirement in 2001. During her time with the association, she helped organize a group of civic-minded women named the “Fair Ladies,” who contributed funds to support Colorado youth by bidding on livestock at the National Western Stock Show. 

Judy was an avid fly fisherwoman and outdoor enthusiast and enjoyed retirement, spending time in both Colorado and Montana. She spent countless hours in pottery workshops and exercise classes at Cook Park Recreation Center in Denver. She is survived by her sister Miriam Goulding of Plattsburg, NY; housemate Dick Eisenbeis of Philipsburg, MT; daughter Laura Henning of Missoula, MT; and son Chris Henning of Denver.

A celebration of Judy will be held Sunday, February 25, 2018 at the Wynkoop Brewing Co. located at 1634 18th Street, Denver, CO 80202 from 3:00-6:00 P.M. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to:

National Park Foundation

Denver Dumb Friends League

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