Franklin and Joy Burns
“If we’ve been successful in our business endeavors, that success has come from the community, and part of it should go back to the community.” Joy Burns
Franklin L. and Joy S. Burns signify the meaning of economic vitality and quality of life through their many contributions to the community. Mr. Burns is known for his leadership in the development of affordable housing through his company, The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company. Mrs. Burns is recognized for her involvement in the founding of The Women’s Bank of Colorado, known today as Colorado Business Bank; the development of the Burnsley Hotel, a Capitol Hill landmark; as well as for her involvement with the University of Denver. Together they have truly made Colorado a better place to live and do business.
In 1938 Franklin Burns, a Denver native, joined The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company, which was founded by his uncle, Daniel Cochran Burns. The company paved the way for the home building industry by providing affordable housing to lower income families. The company sold homes for only 10 percent down long before the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) existed. After his uncle’s death in 1939, Burns became executive vice president and manager of the company working alongside his father who assumed the presidency. Together, they carried on his uncle’s vision: to make the dream of owning a home more accessible than ever for people of his state.
Burns became president of The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company in 1942 at the age of 28, after his father’s death. Burns began developing subdivisions and shopping centers that are still known today, such as Cherry Hills Vista and Brentwood Shopping Center. Burns was able to open the door for many people by offering affordable housing and creating package mortgages and construction warranties. Through Burns’ leadership, The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company developed more than 13,000 residential sites, homes, apartments and commercial projects in Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Puerto Rico totaling, $129 million.
Burns was also very involved in his community. He Contributed his time, wisdom and funds to many organizations, including the Inter-County Regional Planning Commission, Mount Airy Psychiatric Center, Mercy Hospital, the United Way and the Historic Paramount Foundation.
In 1958 Burns met Joy Steelman Colwick at a golf tournament held at the Cherry Hills Country Club. By 1960, the two were married. Joy Burns supported her husband and his company by traveling over the years, but by the 1970s, the native Texan who studied business at the University of Houston, began setting the pace for women in the business world.
Mrs. Burns is known as a successful businesswoman and a trailblazer for many reasons. In addition to helping found The Women’s Bank in 1976, now known as Colorado Business Bank, she is also known for the renovation of the Hampshire House, which her husband’s company bought in 1969. By 1983, Mrs. Burns began redeveloping the hotel into what is known today as the Burnsley Hotel. Mrs. Burns was personally involved with all aspects of its transformation into an all-suite hotel. The Hotel opened in 1985 and Mrs. Burns continued her involvement as president until 1993. The Burnsley Hotel has remained a Capital Hill landmark. She also became the first woman to chair the Denver Metro Convention & Business Bureau, and is currently the president of her husband’s company, The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company, since his passing in 1997.
Besides her business contributions, Mrs. Burns is also known for her charitable involvement in the community. She started volunteering at the University of Denver when a friend asked her to help raise money for the student library. This was just the beginning of her association with the University of Denver as she went on to chair the board of trustees and as president of the University of Denver’s Pioneer Sportswoman. To show their gratitude the University of Denver named the Joy Burns Ice Arena in her honor. Mrs. Burns was also the founder of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado and has been involved with the Children’s Diabetes Foundation Carousel Ball.
Mrs. Burns is also a sportswoman, serving as president of the Sportswomen Colorado Foundation and part owner of the Colorado Xplosion. She was also the only female member of the Metropolitan Football Stadium Board.
Franklin and Joy Burns have succeeded in their own business endeavors, while at the same time contributing to others. They have served on many boards and committees over the years, successfully striving to make Colorado a better place to live. For this, they have been recognized separately many times for their accomplishments. This time, they will again be honored together for all of their hard work and dedication.
Franklin L. and Joy S. Burns signify the meaning of economic vitality and quality of life through their many contributions to the community. Mr. Burns is known for his leadership in the development of affordable housing through his company, The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company. Mrs. Burns is recognized for her involvement in the founding of The Women’s Bank of Colorado, known today as Colorado Business Bank; the development of the Burnsley Hotel, a Capitol Hill landmark; as well as for her involvement with the University of Denver. Together they have truly made Colorado a better place to live and do business.
In 1938 Franklin Burns, a Denver native, joined The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company, which was founded by his uncle, Daniel Cochran Burns. The company paved the way for the home building industry by providing affordable housing to lower income families. The company sold homes for only 10 percent down long before the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) existed. After his uncle’s death in 1939, Burns became executive vice president and manager of the company working alongside his father who assumed the presidency. Together, they carried on his uncle’s vision: to make the dream of owning a home more accessible than ever for people of his state.
Burns became president of The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company in 1942 at the age of 28, after his father’s death. Burns began developing subdivisions and shopping centers that are still known today, such as Cherry Hills Vista and Brentwood Shopping Center. Burns was able to open the door for many people by offering affordable housing and creating package mortgages and construction warranties. Through Burns’ leadership, The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company developed more than 13,000 residential sites, homes, apartments and commercial projects in Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Puerto Rico totaling, $129 million.
Burns was also very involved in his community. He Contributed his time, wisdom and funds to many organizations, including the Inter-County Regional Planning Commission, Mount Airy Psychiatric Center, Mercy Hospital, the United Way and the Historic Paramount Foundation.
In 1958 Burns met Joy Steelman Colwick at a golf tournament held at the Cherry Hills Country Club. By 1960, the two were married. Joy Burns supported her husband and his company by traveling over the years, but by the 1970s, the native Texan who studied business at the University of Houston, began setting the pace for women in the business world.
Mrs. Burns is known as a successful businesswoman and a trailblazer for many reasons. In addition to helping found The Women’s Bank in 1976, now known as Colorado Business Bank, she is also known for the renovation of the Hampshire House, which her husband’s company bought in 1969. By 1983, Mrs. Burns began redeveloping the hotel into what is known today as the Burnsley Hotel. Mrs. Burns was personally involved with all aspects of its transformation into an all-suite hotel. The Hotel opened in 1985 and Mrs. Burns continued her involvement as president until 1993. The Burnsley Hotel has remained a Capital Hill landmark. She also became the first woman to chair the Denver Metro Convention & Business Bureau, and is currently the president of her husband’s company, The D.C. Burns Realty & Trust Company, since his passing in 1997.
Besides her business contributions, Mrs. Burns is also known for her charitable involvement in the community. She started volunteering at the University of Denver when a friend asked her to help raise money for the student library. This was just the beginning of her association with the University of Denver as she went on to chair the board of trustees and as president of the University of Denver’s Pioneer Sportswoman. To show their gratitude the University of Denver named the Joy Burns Ice Arena in her honor. Mrs. Burns was also the founder of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado and has been involved with the Children’s Diabetes Foundation Carousel Ball.
Mrs. Burns is also a sportswoman, serving as president of the Sportswomen Colorado Foundation and part owner of the Colorado Xplosion. She was also the only female member of the Metropolitan Football Stadium Board.
Franklin and Joy Burns have succeeded in their own business endeavors, while at the same time contributing to others. They have served on many boards and committees over the years, successfully striving to make Colorado a better place to live. For this, they have been recognized separately many times for their accomplishments. This time, they will again be honored together for all of their hard work and dedication.
