Honoring Brig. Gen. Felix Sparks
On February 23rd, 2024, I honored one of Delta's greatest statesman
On February 23, 2024, I brought HJR24-1017 that renames Bridge I-04-K, which is on Hwy 50 running southbound over the Gunnison River going into Delta, the “Brigadier General Felix Sparks Memorial Bridge”. I was honored to bring this resolution with Rep. Weissman and Sens. Will & Roberts.
Brig. Gen. Felix Sparks was a famous resident of Delta, Colorado, and contributed significantly to the peace, safety, and general welfare of our great state and nation as a war hero in World War II and liberator of the Dachau Concentration Camp, District Attorney for the 7th Judicial District, water lawyer, and Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Associate Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court, and a Brigadier General of the Colorado National Guard.
General Sparks was a tremendous leader who made a positive impact on state and nation. He was born on August 2, 1917 in San Antonio, Texas and grew up in Arizona. He enlisted in the US Army in 1936, serving two years active duty, before joining the reserves and attending the University of Arizona. In 1939, Sparks was called to active duty again and commissioned a second lieutenant in 1940.
General Sparks was assigned to the 45th Infantry Division’s 157th Infantry Regiment throughout World War II, from combat in Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. Near the end of the war, he was commander of the 157th Infantry’s 3rd Battalion, which he led during the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. Sparks was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and French Croix de Guerre.
After the war, General Sparks came to Colorado and attended the University of Colorado School of Law, where he earned an LL.B. in 1947 and immediately began practicing law in Delta, Colorado at the law firm of Sparks, Willett, Conklin, and Carroll. This law firm made its mark on history, with Willett’s son, Yeulin, and Carroll’s granddaughter, Morgan, serving in the Colorado state legislature, and Mr. Conklin serving as Speaker of the House from 1957-1960.
In 1948, General Sparks was elected district attorney for the 7th Judicial District and in 1956 was appointed an Associate Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court.
In 1958, General Sparks was appointed director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a position he held until his retirement in 1979. He served as a commissioner on the Upper Colorado River Commission and negotiated important water resource management on behalf of the state. General Sparks was Colorado’s representative in the negotiations which led to the passage of the 1968 Colorado River Basin Project Act. His leadership and negotiations led to the funding and construction of several Colorado River projects, including the Dolores Project, the Dallas Creek Project, and the Animas-La Plata Project. He was a lead drafter on the 1969 Water Rights Determination and Administration Act and in 1972 took the lead role in developing and drafting Colorado’s initial instream flow protection program.
General Sparks continued his military service in the Colorado National Guard. He worked his way up the ranks eventually being promoted to Brigadier General and served as Colorado’s Assistant Adjutant General for the Army and Commander of the Colorado Army National Guard. He held this position until his retirement from military service in 1977.
General Sparks passed away on September 25, 2007 in Denver of pneumonia.
In 2020 Netflix released a docudrama titled, The Liberator, which is about Sparks and his battalion’s liberation of Dachau during World War II.
Although Sparks may be best remembered for his military career, which included the liberation of Dachau, he was one of our state’s most accomplished water leaders and many of his decisions continue to have ripple effects to this day. As such, my colleagues and I are honored to name the southbound bridge over the Gunnison River in Delta, Colorado as the Brig. Gen. Felix Sparks Memorial Bridge.
(This newsletter was adapted from HJR24-1017)
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Great effort, Matt. Thanks for sharing this information and recognizing this great American! David Bradford