Allan and Gerald Phipps
Allan and Gerald Phipps will forever be remembered in Colorado as saviors. From their ownership of the Denver Broncos to the innovation that has preserved the Winter Park ski area, one cannot look at the history of Colorado and not find evidence of the Phipps brother’s outstanding accomplishments.
The Phipps family has for generations been a landmark in Colorado history. Allan & Gerald’s father, Lawrence C. Phipps Sr., set the stage as a former U.S. Senator from Colorado, and their mother, Margaret Rogers Phipps, was the founder and president of the Denver Symphony.
The two brothers, of very different temperaments, were both born in Denver. Allan on October 3rd, 1912, and Gerald on March 4, 1915. Being sons of a United States Senator, the two brothers grew up in Washington D.C., spending summers and holidays in Colorado.
Scholarly Allan, a straight A student, attended Oxford University in England and the University of Denver Law School. Gerald studied English at Williams College in Massachusetts and has been quoted as saying he settled for “gentleman’s grades.” Allan went on to practice Law for the Denver Tramway Co. and Gerald went to work for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway.
The two brothers loved Denver and Gerald often joked it would take an act of congress to get them to leave, he was right. When Congress declared war on Japan the brothers joined the Navy. Allan served as a Lt. Commander in the south pacific and Gerald served in a government official position in Washington D.C. After the war the two brothers returned to Colorado, Allan to practice Law, and Gerald to start his own construction business. Gerald H. Phipps, Inc. built the Boettcher Conservatory at the Botanic Gardens, the business administration and general classroom buildings at the University of Denver, and more recently the company has begun work on the new Denver Bronco football stadium.
Inseparable in their youth, there was never any question the two brothers would be there for each other in times of crisis. So it is no surprise that in 1964 when the Broncos had finished 2-11-1 and had just 8,002 season ticket holders, and the city of Atlanta was knocking at the franchise door, that Gerald called his brother Allan to help purchase the Broncos, and keep the team in the state of Colorado. Gerald and Allan Phipps borrowed 1.5 million dollars, formed Rocky Mountain Sports Inc., and bought out the other franchise owners. Except for 1% of the stock that was held by the brother’s attorney, they were the sole proprietors of an unpopular AFL franchise. A week later 941 additional season tickets were purchased, and in one-year tickets sales jumped from 8,002 season ticket holders, to 22,905 at the beginning of the next season. Five years later marked the birth of the infamous Denver Bronco ticket waiting list.
The two brothers were active in many community and civic organizations. Allan served on the board of trustees for the Denver Museum of Natural History for 54 years, and was the board president from 1971 to 1982. In addition, Allan also headed the Columbia Presbyterian-St Luke’s Hospital board of managers, and was active on the boards of the Denver Symphony Society, the Red Rocks Summer Festival, Williams College, Graland School, and Clayton College.
Gerald, who is the first and only non-player member of the Denver Bronco Ring of Fame, served as the president of Gerald H. Phipps construction company while he guided the Denver Bronco franchise through their first ever AFC championship, a Western Division Title in 1977 and 78, and three consecutive playoff appearances in 1977-79. During the brother’s ownership of the Denver Bronco’s Gerald served as the chairman of the board and earned the respect of players and competitors alike.
Gerald H. Phipps passed away in August of 1993, and Allan followed at the age of 84 in 1997. In an interview conducted just before the passing of Gerald Phipps the two brothers were asked to comment on their differences. “
I would say Gerald is more calm, not as opinionated as I am,” said Allan of there differences in personality.
“Allan used to beat me up regularly when we were kids,” said Gerald “I have a calmer disposition and the reason is he has a quicker temper and when we were growing up and I got out of line I got whomped. So I learned to control myself very well.”
Be it Gerald’s calmer disposition, or Allan’s quicker temper, it is clear the State of Colorado wouldn't be the same without this dynamic pair of brothers.
The Phipps family has for generations been a landmark in Colorado history. Allan & Gerald’s father, Lawrence C. Phipps Sr., set the stage as a former U.S. Senator from Colorado, and their mother, Margaret Rogers Phipps, was the founder and president of the Denver Symphony.
The two brothers, of very different temperaments, were both born in Denver. Allan on October 3rd, 1912, and Gerald on March 4, 1915. Being sons of a United States Senator, the two brothers grew up in Washington D.C., spending summers and holidays in Colorado.
Scholarly Allan, a straight A student, attended Oxford University in England and the University of Denver Law School. Gerald studied English at Williams College in Massachusetts and has been quoted as saying he settled for “gentleman’s grades.” Allan went on to practice Law for the Denver Tramway Co. and Gerald went to work for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway.
The two brothers loved Denver and Gerald often joked it would take an act of congress to get them to leave, he was right. When Congress declared war on Japan the brothers joined the Navy. Allan served as a Lt. Commander in the south pacific and Gerald served in a government official position in Washington D.C. After the war the two brothers returned to Colorado, Allan to practice Law, and Gerald to start his own construction business. Gerald H. Phipps, Inc. built the Boettcher Conservatory at the Botanic Gardens, the business administration and general classroom buildings at the University of Denver, and more recently the company has begun work on the new Denver Bronco football stadium.
Inseparable in their youth, there was never any question the two brothers would be there for each other in times of crisis. So it is no surprise that in 1964 when the Broncos had finished 2-11-1 and had just 8,002 season ticket holders, and the city of Atlanta was knocking at the franchise door, that Gerald called his brother Allan to help purchase the Broncos, and keep the team in the state of Colorado. Gerald and Allan Phipps borrowed 1.5 million dollars, formed Rocky Mountain Sports Inc., and bought out the other franchise owners. Except for 1% of the stock that was held by the brother’s attorney, they were the sole proprietors of an unpopular AFL franchise. A week later 941 additional season tickets were purchased, and in one-year tickets sales jumped from 8,002 season ticket holders, to 22,905 at the beginning of the next season. Five years later marked the birth of the infamous Denver Bronco ticket waiting list.
The two brothers were active in many community and civic organizations. Allan served on the board of trustees for the Denver Museum of Natural History for 54 years, and was the board president from 1971 to 1982. In addition, Allan also headed the Columbia Presbyterian-St Luke’s Hospital board of managers, and was active on the boards of the Denver Symphony Society, the Red Rocks Summer Festival, Williams College, Graland School, and Clayton College.
Gerald, who is the first and only non-player member of the Denver Bronco Ring of Fame, served as the president of Gerald H. Phipps construction company while he guided the Denver Bronco franchise through their first ever AFC championship, a Western Division Title in 1977 and 78, and three consecutive playoff appearances in 1977-79. During the brother’s ownership of the Denver Bronco’s Gerald served as the chairman of the board and earned the respect of players and competitors alike.
Gerald H. Phipps passed away in August of 1993, and Allan followed at the age of 84 in 1997. In an interview conducted just before the passing of Gerald Phipps the two brothers were asked to comment on their differences. “
I would say Gerald is more calm, not as opinionated as I am,” said Allan of there differences in personality.
“Allan used to beat me up regularly when we were kids,” said Gerald “I have a calmer disposition and the reason is he has a quicker temper and when we were growing up and I got out of line I got whomped. So I learned to control myself very well.”
Be it Gerald’s calmer disposition, or Allan’s quicker temper, it is clear the State of Colorado wouldn't be the same without this dynamic pair of brothers.
