Hank Bosco
Henry “Hank”Bosco was born to Italian immigrant parents in Glenwood Springs, Colo. on October 20, 1922. He spent his childhood living in a small apartment in the 40-room Star Hotel, now the site of the Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub.
His father purchased the adjacent 60-room Denver Hotel in 1938 and connected the two hotels. Hank grew up working at various duties at the Denver Hotel.
After high school, Hank enrolled at the University of Colorado. While working construction at an army camp, he enlisted in the Army Reserves and took compulsory weekly military classes in addition to his college curriculum. Near the end of his junior year, he was called to active duty. He received several promotions and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Upon returning home, he graduated from the Lewis Hotel Management School in Washington, D.C., following which he returned to Glenwood Springs and joined his father in expanding the Denver Hotel.
In 1956, the owner of the Hot Springs property, Frank E. Kistler, made a decision to sell the property and retire. Twenty-two mostly local residents each invested $10,000 to make the $200,000 down payment along with $20,000 initial operating cash. Kistler was one of the 22, and Hank and his father Mike were two others to invest in the purchase of the property and keep it all locally owned.
Along with serving many other organizations around Colorado, Hank was part of lobbying for the location of what is now the I-70 Eisenhower/Edwin Johnson Memorial Tunnel, has been honored by the Colorado State Chamber of Commerce, Colorado/Wyoming Hotel Association, and is a founding member and a strong supporter of Youth Zone, an organization that provides support and counseling for troubled teens.
In 1973, he and his father sold the Denver Hotel and, in 1976, he was asked by the Board to take the reins of general manager of the Hot Springs Property. He accepted and continued until l989. At that time, Kjell Mitchell, whose father was an original investor, was named general manager and remains to this day. Hank retains the title of president and chairman of the board and can be found any business day at his office in the Lodge building.
In 2006, he was named the Glenwood Chamber Resort Association Citizen of the Year award at their gala annual ball. In August 2009, he was named to the Italian-American Hall of Fame in Denver. The Glenwood chamber of commerce has established the Bosco Tourism Business of the Year award, an annual award in honor of the Bosco family and their contribution to tourism over the years in Glenwood Springs.
Bosco is a very active member of a number of civic organizations. He is a 60-year member of the local Kiwanis Club and a 50-year member of the Elks Lodge. He served on the Glenwood Springs City Planning and Zoning Commission and was a City Councilman for eight years. He was very active in the chamber of commerce and was involved in establishing the Chamber Ambassadors, a group charged with greeting and welcoming new businesses, visitors and tourists, as well as special events to Glenwood Springs. He was also very involved in forming a group called Community On the Move to work on improving the ambiance of Glenwood Springs as a tourist destination.
Bosco married Dorothy Cowles in 1950. They have two sons, John and Gary – both employed at the Glenwood Hot Springs – and two daughters, Deborah and Gina.
His father purchased the adjacent 60-room Denver Hotel in 1938 and connected the two hotels. Hank grew up working at various duties at the Denver Hotel.
After high school, Hank enrolled at the University of Colorado. While working construction at an army camp, he enlisted in the Army Reserves and took compulsory weekly military classes in addition to his college curriculum. Near the end of his junior year, he was called to active duty. He received several promotions and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Upon returning home, he graduated from the Lewis Hotel Management School in Washington, D.C., following which he returned to Glenwood Springs and joined his father in expanding the Denver Hotel.
In 1956, the owner of the Hot Springs property, Frank E. Kistler, made a decision to sell the property and retire. Twenty-two mostly local residents each invested $10,000 to make the $200,000 down payment along with $20,000 initial operating cash. Kistler was one of the 22, and Hank and his father Mike were two others to invest in the purchase of the property and keep it all locally owned.
Along with serving many other organizations around Colorado, Hank was part of lobbying for the location of what is now the I-70 Eisenhower/Edwin Johnson Memorial Tunnel, has been honored by the Colorado State Chamber of Commerce, Colorado/Wyoming Hotel Association, and is a founding member and a strong supporter of Youth Zone, an organization that provides support and counseling for troubled teens.
In 1973, he and his father sold the Denver Hotel and, in 1976, he was asked by the Board to take the reins of general manager of the Hot Springs Property. He accepted and continued until l989. At that time, Kjell Mitchell, whose father was an original investor, was named general manager and remains to this day. Hank retains the title of president and chairman of the board and can be found any business day at his office in the Lodge building.
In 2006, he was named the Glenwood Chamber Resort Association Citizen of the Year award at their gala annual ball. In August 2009, he was named to the Italian-American Hall of Fame in Denver. The Glenwood chamber of commerce has established the Bosco Tourism Business of the Year award, an annual award in honor of the Bosco family and their contribution to tourism over the years in Glenwood Springs.
Bosco is a very active member of a number of civic organizations. He is a 60-year member of the local Kiwanis Club and a 50-year member of the Elks Lodge. He served on the Glenwood Springs City Planning and Zoning Commission and was a City Councilman for eight years. He was very active in the chamber of commerce and was involved in establishing the Chamber Ambassadors, a group charged with greeting and welcoming new businesses, visitors and tourists, as well as special events to Glenwood Springs. He was also very involved in forming a group called Community On the Move to work on improving the ambiance of Glenwood Springs as a tourist destination.
Bosco married Dorothy Cowles in 1950. They have two sons, John and Gary – both employed at the Glenwood Hot Springs – and two daughters, Deborah and Gina.
