Monfort brothers
Encyclopedia
Charles K. "Charlie" Monfort (born October 30, 1959) and Richard L. "Dick" Monfort (born April 27, 1954) are the primary owners of the Colorado Rockies
Major League Baseball
team. Both grew up in Greeley, Colorado
and are sons to Kenneth Monfort; previous owner of Monfort of Colorado, Inc. a meatpacking and distributing company that was acquired by ConAgra Foods
in 1987.
, Greeley in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He joined Montfort of Colorado in 1974 as a cattle buyer. He then served as vice president federal cattle procurement from 1979–81, group vice president of cattle products 1983-1984 and executive vice president 1984-1987. When ConAgra bought Montfort of Colorado in 1987, Dick became president of ConAgra Red Meats. Dick also owns shares in the Hyatt
Grand Champion Hotel of Palm Springs, the Hilltop Steak House in Boston, and other real estate ventures in Colorado. At the University of Northern Colorado
, Dick serves on the board of trustees along with the board of directors at University of Colorado Hospital
, Denver Zoo
, and the Colorado Economic Development Board. Dick now resides in Greeley, Colorado
with his wife Christine with their three children.
(Salt Lake City) in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Management where he served as president of the Kappa Sigma
fraternity. Charlie started working for the family business Monfort of Colorado, Inc. also in 1988 as president of International Sales until 1996. In 1996, Charlie became president of ConAgra Foods
International; later leaving in 1998 to concentrate on his previous commitment to the Rockies. Charlie also serves on the Board of Trustees at Colorado Mesa University, (formerly Mesa State College
); Grand Junction, Colorado
. All along with a being board member of the Kempe Foundation, the Special Olympics
, and the Monfort Family Foundation. Charlie now resides with his wife Vanessa Monfort and their four kids Kenny, Ciara, Lucas, and Danica in Greeley, Colorado
.
and the Monforts bought controlling interest in the Rockies. This came after founding owner Mickey Monus was ensnared in a massive accounting scandal surrounding his Phar-Mor
discount drugstores.
Dick Monfort became vice chairman of the Rockies on December 8, 1997. On March 31, 2003, Charlie was named CEO of the Colorado Rockies, succeeding president Keli McGregor
who had taken the role from McMorris in 2001.
In 2005, Dick and Charlie Monfort purchased Jerry McMorris’ financial interest in the team, becoming the primary owners. Charlie remained as chairman and CEO until 2011, when he handed both roles to Dick.
The Colorado Rockies led Major League Baseball
the first seven seasons of the franchise in attendance under CEO Jerry McMorris. Since 1999 the attendance at Coors field dropped as low as 26th out of 30 teams to 21st in 2007. This has caused uproar from fans and media alike for change from the Monfort brothers with declining attendance and losing seasons. The Colorado Rockies also have a low payroll for its players, ranking 28th out of 30 teams in 2006 at $41,233,000. Many fans and media argue that the Monfort brothers were unwilling to put enough capital to recruit good players for a playoff season. The Monfort brothers are a great proponent of the farm system to develop and grow players in the minor and major leagues.
This argument continues today, even after the Colorado Rockies historic run in the 2007 season, winning 21 out of 22 games; getting the franchise's first berth in the World Series
, where they were swept by the Boston Red Sox
in four games. In 2009, the Rockies management started to change with the firing of Clint Hurdle
after an 11–17 start to the season. Under new skipper Jim Tracy the Colorado Rockies returned to the playoffs for the third time in franchise history, where they would lose in 4 games to the eventual National League
champion Philadelphia Phillies
.
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team. Both grew up in Greeley, Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
and are sons to Kenneth Monfort; previous owner of Monfort of Colorado, Inc. a meatpacking and distributing company that was acquired by ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc. is an American packaged foods company. ConAgra's products are available in supermarkets, as well as restaurants and food service establishments. Its headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska...
in 1987.
Dick Monfort
Dick Monfort was the first of the two Monfort brothers. Dick graduated from the University of Northern ColoradoUniversity of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
, Greeley in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He joined Montfort of Colorado in 1974 as a cattle buyer. He then served as vice president federal cattle procurement from 1979–81, group vice president of cattle products 1983-1984 and executive vice president 1984-1987. When ConAgra bought Montfort of Colorado in 1987, Dick became president of ConAgra Red Meats. Dick also owns shares in the Hyatt
Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation , is an international operator of hotels.Hyatt Center is the headquarters for Hyatt corporation...
Grand Champion Hotel of Palm Springs, the Hilltop Steak House in Boston, and other real estate ventures in Colorado. At the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
, Dick serves on the board of trustees along with the board of directors at University of Colorado Hospital
University of Colorado Hospital
University of Colorado Hospital is the principal teaching hospital for the University of Colorado Denver, located in Aurora, Colorado.In the most recent U.S. News and World Report hospital rankings, UCH ranked in the top 50 for 7 of 16 medical specialities.In 2005, UCH was redesignated by the ...
, Denver Zoo
Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo is an facility located in City Park of Denver, Colorado, USA. Founded in 1896, it is owned by the City and County of Denver and funded in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District . It was the most popular paid attraction in the Denver metropolitan area in 2005.The...
, and the Colorado Economic Development Board. Dick now resides in Greeley, Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
with his wife Christine with their three children.
Charlie Monfort
Charlie Monfort graduated from the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
(Salt Lake City) in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Management where he served as president of the Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
fraternity. Charlie started working for the family business Monfort of Colorado, Inc. also in 1988 as president of International Sales until 1996. In 1996, Charlie became president of ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc. is an American packaged foods company. ConAgra's products are available in supermarkets, as well as restaurants and food service establishments. Its headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska...
International; later leaving in 1998 to concentrate on his previous commitment to the Rockies. Charlie also serves on the Board of Trustees at Colorado Mesa University, (formerly Mesa State College
Mesa State College
Colorado Mesa University is a public comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado. The university has its primary campus in central Grand Junction. The university also has other campuses as well; Bishop Campus, which houses Western Colorado Community College in northwestern Grand Junction...
); Grand Junction, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
. All along with a being board member of the Kempe Foundation, the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
, and the Monfort Family Foundation. Charlie now resides with his wife Vanessa Monfort and their four kids Kenny, Ciara, Lucas, and Danica in Greeley, Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
.
Colorado Rockies affiliations
On September 2, 1992, Jerry McMorrisJerry McMorris
Jerry McMorris was the principal owner of the Colorado Rockies of the National League from through . A limited partner in the ownership group that founded the Rockies in the early 1990s, he joined with meatpacking heirs Charlie and Dick Monfort to buy controlling interest in the team after...
and the Monforts bought controlling interest in the Rockies. This came after founding owner Mickey Monus was ensnared in a massive accounting scandal surrounding his Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor was a United States chain of discount drug stores, based in Youngstown, Ohio, and founded by Michael "Mickey" Monus and David S. Shapira in 1982. Some of its stores used the names Pharmhouse and Rx Place...
discount drugstores.
Dick Monfort became vice chairman of the Rockies on December 8, 1997. On March 31, 2003, Charlie was named CEO of the Colorado Rockies, succeeding president Keli McGregor
Keli McGregor
Keli McGregor was a professional football player in the NFL and was president of the Colorado Rockies from 2001 until his death.-School sport:...
who had taken the role from McMorris in 2001.
In 2005, Dick and Charlie Monfort purchased Jerry McMorris’ financial interest in the team, becoming the primary owners. Charlie remained as chairman and CEO until 2011, when he handed both roles to Dick.
The Colorado Rockies led Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
the first seven seasons of the franchise in attendance under CEO Jerry McMorris. Since 1999 the attendance at Coors field dropped as low as 26th out of 30 teams to 21st in 2007. This has caused uproar from fans and media alike for change from the Monfort brothers with declining attendance and losing seasons. The Colorado Rockies also have a low payroll for its players, ranking 28th out of 30 teams in 2006 at $41,233,000. Many fans and media argue that the Monfort brothers were unwilling to put enough capital to recruit good players for a playoff season. The Monfort brothers are a great proponent of the farm system to develop and grow players in the minor and major leagues.
This argument continues today, even after the Colorado Rockies historic run in the 2007 season, winning 21 out of 22 games; getting the franchise's first berth in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, where they were swept by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in four games. In 2009, the Rockies management started to change with the firing of Clint Hurdle
Clint Hurdle
Clinton Merrick Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball outfielder whose 10-year career was spent with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. After retiring from playing baseball, Hurdle became a manager...
after an 11–17 start to the season. Under new skipper Jim Tracy the Colorado Rockies returned to the playoffs for the third time in franchise history, where they would lose in 4 games to the eventual National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
champion Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.