Colorado Judge James Flanigan faced discrimination

By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 1, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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Judge Flanigan loved golfing, bowling and playing poker.

During the depths of the Great Depression, a young James Flanigan sneaked aboard a Rock Island freight train in Kansas and "hoboed" it to Denver.

The year was 1938. Mr. Flanigan was in his early 20s. He was seeking his fortune.

Mr. Flanigan ultimately found good luck in the Mile High City.

He worked his way through the University of Denver. He studied hard and earned a law degree by attending night school.

And in 1957, Mr. Flanigan become Colorado's first black judge.

James C. Flanigan died Saturday in Denver at the Brighton Gardens nursing home, according to Pipkin Mortuary. He was 92 and had been suffering from prostate cancer.

Born to a poor family in Kansas in 1915, Mr. Flanigan served as both a Colorado Municipal Court judge and a Colorado District Court judge.

"You could write a book about just the awards he got," said Denver resident Beverly Biffle, 78. Biffle and her late husband - Olympic gold medal winner Jerome Biffle - were friends of Judge Flanigan and his late wife, Luella Mae Flanigan.

An avid golfer, bowler and poker player, Judge Flanigan was a prominent citizen of Denver and its black community.

He also was a high-profile target of racial discrimination in the early 1960s.

"He lived in Denver at a time when discrimination was pretty rampant," said Biffle.

On Aug. 7, 1961, Judge Flanigan was barred from playing in a Colorado Golf Association championship at Cherry Hills Country Club because of his race.

Technically, he was turned away because his club - the East Denver Golf Club - was not affiliated with the Colorado Golf Association. But the East Denver Golf Club had a black membership, and it had been refused when it applied for membership in the CGA.

Judge Flanigan took steps to ensure that other blacks would excel in golf, including one particular 12-year-old.

"He gave me my first pair of golf shoes and my first set of golf clubs," recalled Tom Woodard, a professional golfer who served as director of golf for the city of Denver and now serves as director of golf for the Foothills Park & Recreation District.

Woodard played in the PGA Tour in 1981 and 1984 and also played in two U.S. Open tournaments.

Judge Flanigan was among a group of about 10 members of the East Denver Golf Club who donated money so that Woodard could play in his first two professional tournaments.

"He was very active in golf. That was his passion," said Woodard, now 52.

Judge Flanigan lived to see golf superstar Tiger Woods win his first Masters Tournament in 1997, calling it "the most wonderful thing that could happen."

He also met a very young Tiger Woods and his father, Earl, in 1980 when they put on an exhibition at City Park. Tiger was 41/2 years old at the time.

"Lt. Col. Woods knew me, came over and talked to me about little Tiger," Judge Flanigan told the Rocky Mountain News in 1998.

"He had Tiger demonstrate (shots), must have been 45 to 50 yards away. That was just amazing. He'd say, 'Tiger, come over here and show the fellows your putting.' I was just flabbergasted a little fellow like that could putt that well at that age."

Judge Flanigan himself was driven when it came to his favorite pastimes, including golf, pool, poker, bowling and basketball.

"Whatever he did he was a strong competitor. He was in there to win," recalled Denver businessman and longtime friend Charles Cousins.

"He's been an asset to our community," added Cousins, 90. "All I can say is wonderful things about him."

Those who knew Judge Flanigan said he was a great storyteller, had a good sense of humor and was a "people person."

Judge Flanigan received numerous awards. His portrait hangs in the Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame at the Denver Public Library's Ford-Warren branch.

He is survived by his son, James Flanigan Jr., of Denver.

fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467

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