Richard Perchlik
Encyclopedia
Richard Perchlik was an active Political leader in Greeley, Colorado
and a professor of Political Science at the University of Northern Colorado
. Richard was born in Cleveland, Ohio
, the son of Bessie (Kral) and John Prchlik (Siblings: John, Arthur, Ruth.) He received a Bachelor's degree in business from Ohio State University
and then went into the Army to fight in the Korean War
. After an honorable discharge he attended Harvard University and then received his Master's degree in Education from Ohio State and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. During his studies he added an 'e' to the spelling of his Czech name. While studying in Boulder he married Sylvia (Marston) Perchlik and together they parented Thomas, David, Laura and Andrew.
After a few years teaching at the University Lab School Richard Perchlik began working for Colorado State College (later became the University of Northern Colorado (UNC)) in 1961 as a Political Science professor. He served as the first Chair of the Political Science Department at the University for over two decades, helped found the UNC Faculty Senate and served on The Educational Planning Service.
After his death a Political Science scholarship was created in his name.
Throughout his teaching career he was active in the Democratic Party at local and state levels and once represented the state as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. His other public activities included serving as Chair of Colorado Common Cause (1973-1975), the state board of the American Civil Liberties Union, Gov. John Love's Commission on Respect for Law and the National Council on Social Studies.
Though he ran as a Democrat in a heavily Republican area he was elected Mayor of Greeley twice, in 1969 and 1971. As Mayor he initiated several public works projects and, in order to make government more accessible, began broadcasting City Council meetings on local radio. It was during his first term as Mayor that he decided to run against Wayne N. Aspinall
for the Fourth District US State Representative seat. Though Perchlik lost the race his challenge exposed Aspinall's political weaknesses that would be used to challenge him successfully in 1972. Richard was also the owner and operator of Sharktooth Ski Area from 1970 to 1985.
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 a professor of Political Science 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...
. Richard was born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, the son of Bessie (Kral) and John Prchlik (Siblings: John, Arthur, Ruth.) He received a Bachelor's degree in business from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and then went into the Army to fight in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. After an honorable discharge he attended Harvard University and then received his Master's degree in Education from Ohio State and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. During his studies he added an 'e' to the spelling of his Czech name. While studying in Boulder he married Sylvia (Marston) Perchlik and together they parented Thomas, David, Laura and Andrew.
After a few years teaching at the University Lab School Richard Perchlik began working for Colorado State College (later became the University of Northern Colorado (UNC)) in 1961 as a Political Science professor. He served as the first Chair of the Political Science Department at the University for over two decades, helped found the UNC Faculty Senate and served on The Educational Planning Service.
After his death a Political Science scholarship was created in his name.
Throughout his teaching career he was active in the Democratic Party at local and state levels and once represented the state as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. His other public activities included serving as Chair of Colorado Common Cause (1973-1975), the state board of the American Civil Liberties Union, Gov. John Love's Commission on Respect for Law and the National Council on Social Studies.
Though he ran as a Democrat in a heavily Republican area he was elected Mayor of Greeley twice, in 1969 and 1971. As Mayor he initiated several public works projects and, in order to make government more accessible, began broadcasting City Council meetings on local radio. It was during his first term as Mayor that he decided to run against Wayne N. Aspinall
Wayne N. Aspinall
Wayne Norviel Aspinall was a lawyer and politician from Colorado. He is largely known for his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, serving as a Democrat from 1949-1973 from Colorado’s Fourth District. Aspinall became known for his direction of the House Interior and Insular...
for the Fourth District US State Representative seat. Though Perchlik lost the race his challenge exposed Aspinall's political weaknesses that would be used to challenge him successfully in 1972. Richard was also the owner and operator of Sharktooth Ski Area from 1970 to 1985.