by Mike Rosso
It was a packed house in the back room of the Victoria Tavern one Sunday night earlier this month. The occasion was a launch party for “Deeper into the Heart of the Rockies,” a collection of Ed Quillen columns compiled by his daughter Abby.
Many of our regular contributors were on hand to read their chosen excerpt from the book, including Hal Walter, Forrest Whitman and George Sibley. Along with their recital, most shared a favorite Ed anecdote. Unfortunately, Martha Quillen had to pass on her turn at the podium to attend to a grandchild, one apparently not impressed with the proceedings.
It was quite an event and a great tribute to the late founder of this magazine. Two nights later, Abby arranged a similar event, only this time in Boulder, at the University of Colorado, and organized by the Center for the American West. Speakers there included Allen Best, Tom Noel and Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Gregory Hobbs.
I’ve really been enjoying my copy of the book. It’s the kind of book you can pick up at any random spot and begin reading. This can be handy when free time is at a premium. The columns are mostly 750 words or less and are grouped in sections such as, The Rural West, Getting Schooled and Words, Words, Words.
Longtime readers of this magazine will find familiar turf in these pages. Over the years, Ed became a master of the short column. He picks you up, drives you down the road a ways and then just drops you off, leaving you snickering or bemused – and often enlightened. His viewpoints on the changing Mountain West are as relevant today as they were 20 years ago when some of the columns were written, and he was a treasure trove of knowledge of U.S. and Colorado history. Many thanks to Abby Quillen for keeping his words and ideas alive. — Mike Rosso
