Greg Brophy
Encyclopedia
Greg Brophy is a Republican
member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 1st Senate District since his appointment in June 2005. Previously he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005.
and raised on his family's farm near Wray
— both small towns in rural northeastern Colorado — Brophy graduated from Wray High School, where he competed the Colorado state championships in wrestling
and was a member of the Future Farmers of America. Brophy then attended Colorado State University
, where he graduated in 1988 with a degree in animal science
s.
After graduating from college, Brophy returned to Wray to work as a professional farm manager with Progressive Agricultural Management, Inc., a position he held until 2000. He also managed his family's farm, growing corn
, alfalfa
, beans, watermelons and wheat
. Brophy is married; he and his wife, Angela, have three children: Megan, Jordan, and David.
Brophy became a board member of the Yuma County
Farm Bureau in 1994, and chaired the Colorado Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers Board in 1996. From 2000 to 2002, Brophy was an area manager for United States Senator Wayne Allard
.
, including Cheyenne
, Crowley
, Kiowa
, Kit Carson
, Lincoln
, Morgan
, Washington
, and Yuma Counties
, as well as portions of rural eastern Adams County
. Opposed only by Libertarian Gene Leverett in 2002, he defeated Democrat James Bowen for re-election in 2004 by a 3:1 margin.
In 2005, Brophy was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Colorado State Senate. He currently represents Senate District 1, which covers a broad section of northeastern Colorado, encompassing Cheyenne, Elbert
, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan
, Morgan, Phillips
, Prowers
, Sedgwick
, Washington, and Yuma counties. Brophy stood for election to a full 4-year Senate term in 2006, again defeating Democrat James Bowen. Three years into his first term as District 1 State Senator, Brophy has introduced successfully brought and passed legislation that has aided rural Colorado.
license plate. Colorado ACLU executive director Cathryn Hazouri sent Rep. Brophy a letter offering her support:
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 1st Senate District since his appointment in June 2005. Previously he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005.
Early life and career
Born in Holyoke, ColoradoHolyoke, Colorado
The City of Holyoke is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Phillips County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,261 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holyoke is located at ....
and raised on his family's farm near Wray
Wray, Colorado
The City of Wray is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of Yuma County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,187 at the U.S. Census 2000. The school mascot is the Eagles for high school and Eaglets in the lower grades. School colors are purple and white and the Eaglets are...
— both small towns in rural northeastern Colorado — Brophy graduated from Wray High School, where he competed the Colorado state championships in wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and was a member of the Future Farmers of America. Brophy then attended Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, where he graduated in 1988 with a degree in animal science
Animal science
Animal Science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind". Historically, the animals studied were farm animals, including livestock and horses, but courses available now look at a far broader area to include companion animals, for example dogs, cats and...
s.
After graduating from college, Brophy returned to Wray to work as a professional farm manager with Progressive Agricultural Management, Inc., a position he held until 2000. He also managed his family's farm, growing corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
, beans, watermelons and wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
. Brophy is married; he and his wife, Angela, have three children: Megan, Jordan, and David.
Brophy became a board member of the Yuma County
Yuma County, Colorado
Yuma County is the 14th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,841 at U.S. Census 2000...
Farm Bureau in 1994, and chaired the Colorado Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers Board in 1996. From 2000 to 2002, Brophy was an area manager for United States Senator Wayne Allard
Wayne Allard
Alan Wayne Allard is a member of the Republican Party, and was a United States Senator from Colorado. He did not seek re-election in 2008.-Early life:...
.
Legislative career
In 2002, Brophy was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican from House District 63, representing a broad section of the Colorado Eastern PlainsColorado Eastern Plains
The Eastern Plains of Colorado refers to a region of the U.S. state of Colorado east of the Rocky Mountains and east of the population centers of the Front Range.-Geography:...
, including Cheyenne
Cheyenne County, Colorado
Cheyenne County is the fifth least densely populated of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 2,231 at U.S. Census 2000...
, Crowley
Crowley County, Colorado
Crowley County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 5,518 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Ordway.- History :...
, Kiowa
Kiowa County, Colorado
Kiowa County is the second least densely populated of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 1,622 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Eads...
, Kit Carson
Kit Carson County, Colorado
Kit Carson County is the 18th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 8,011 at U.S. Census 2000. The county was named for Kit Carson...
, Lincoln
Lincoln County, Colorado
Lincoln County is the tenth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 6,087 at U.S. Census 2000...
, Morgan
Morgan County, Colorado
Morgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the...
, Washington
Washington County, Colorado
Washington County is the 12th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 4,926 at U.S. Census 2000. The county was named in honor of the United States President George Washington...
, and Yuma Counties
Yuma County, Colorado
Yuma County is the 14th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,841 at U.S. Census 2000...
, as well as portions of rural eastern Adams County
Adams County, Colorado
Adams County is the fifth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the county population was 441,603 in 2010 census, a 21.4% increase since 2000 census. Adams County is named for Alva Adams, Governor of the...
. Opposed only by Libertarian Gene Leverett in 2002, he defeated Democrat James Bowen for re-election in 2004 by a 3:1 margin.
In 2005, Brophy was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Colorado State Senate. He currently represents Senate District 1, which covers a broad section of northeastern Colorado, encompassing Cheyenne, Elbert
Elbert County, Colorado
Elbert County is the 21st most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,872 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Kiowa...
, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan
Logan County, Colorado
Logan County is the 23rd most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for General John A. Logan. The county population was 20,504 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Sterling...
, Morgan, Phillips
Phillips County, Colorado
Phillips County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named in honor of R.O. Phillips, a secretary of the Lincoln Land Company, who organized several towns in Colorado. The county population was 4,480 at U.S. Census 2000...
, Prowers
Prowers County, Colorado
Prowers County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is named in honor of John W. Prowers, a leading pioneer in the lower Arkansas valley region. The county population was 14,483 at U.S. Census 2000...
, Sedgwick
Sedgwick County, Colorado
Sedgwick County is the northeasternmost of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for Fort Sedgwick, a military post along the Platte Trail, which was named for General John Sedgwick. The county population was 2,379 at U.S. 2010 Census...
, Washington, and Yuma counties. Brophy stood for election to a full 4-year Senate term in 2006, again defeating Democrat James Bowen. Three years into his first term as District 1 State Senator, Brophy has introduced successfully brought and passed legislation that has aided rural Colorado.
"ACLUSUX" license plate
In 2009 Brophy registered his displeasure with the ACLU's proposed defense of an ILVTOFU proposed license plate by saying he might seek an ACLUSUX license plate. The ACLU responded that they would defend his right to that plate, to which Brophy asked if the ACLU would defend his right to have a Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
license plate. Colorado ACLU executive director Cathryn Hazouri sent Rep. Brophy a letter offering her support:
"If you apply for that license and are refused, please contact the ACLU because we stand ready to represent you if you want to pursue your right to have that license plate... After all, censorship is censorship and the ACLU doesn’t draw any distinction between speech with which we agree and speech we may not like. That would be content discrimination and would violate one of our major principles of protecting free speech."
External links
- Colorado Senate News Colorado GOP website
- Colorado General Assembly - Greg Brophy official government website
- Face the State articles on Greg Brophy
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Greg Brophy (CO) profile
- Follow the Money - Greg Brophy