[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 33 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JACK B. WEIL

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                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2008

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker. I rise to honor the extraordinary life of 
Jack B. Weil. This exceptional citizen merits both our recognition and 
esteem as his impressive record of civic leadership and invaluable 
service has improved the lives of many Coloradans.
  Sadly, Jack Weil was taken from us by esophageal cancer and he will 
be greatly missed. His passion for art, politics, business and his 
capacity for community service were immeasurable. He molded a life of 
genuine accomplishment and his passing is a great loss to our entire 
community.
  Jack Weil was born November 13, 1928 at Denver's Mercy Hospital. He 
attended the University of Colorado and ultimately graduated from 
Tulane University in 1952. He joined the United States Army and was 
commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. After two years of service, he 
returned to Denver to join the family business, Rockmount Ranch Wear 
Manufacturing Company, a company founded by his father, the indomitable 
Jack A. Weil. Jack Weil was a businessman and a gifted artist whose 
vision and talent for textile designs helped expand the reach of the 
company beyond the Mississippi River. He created some of Rockmount's 
most iconic designs, including the shirt John Travolta wore in the 
movie ``Urban Cowboy.'' Rockmount shirts have been worn by Bob Dylan, 
President Reagan, Elvis Presley and Robert Redford, among others. Jack 
Weil was a major force at Rockmount for fifty years and it has grown 
from one of the original early mercantile businesses in lower downtown 
Denver to an international company with clothing sold throughout the 
United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.
  Jack Weil was also a well-known abstract impressionist painter and 
his son, Steven Weil, noted that ``There was nothing straight and 
narrow about him.'' He developed his own abstract style and he loved to 
share the art he created as well as the art he bought. In the 1960's, 
the Denver Art Museum hung one of Jack Weil's forward looking collages 
and his most recent exhibition was a twenty-canvas show at the Berkeley 
Park Art Gallery in northwest Denver last December.
  Jack Weil was extremely active in politics and in the community. He 
was a party leader and held various posts in the Republican Central 
Committee and was a past secretary of the Colorado Republican Party. 
But Steven Weil noted that he ``could not be cast into the mold of a 
classic conservative'' as he served on the board of Colorado 
Republicans for Choice. In addition to being a leader in Western wear 
and equipment industry associations, Jack Weil was also very involved 
in education serving in various roles, including chair, of the 
Community College of Denver Foundation. Historic preservation was also 
an abiding interest and he served on the planning commissions for the 
Humboldt Island Historic District and Cheeseman Park. He also served on 
the board of the First Universalist Church and the membership committee 
of the Denver Athletic Club. In 2002, Jack Weil was the recipient of 
Tulane University's Alumni Recognition Award.
  Please join me in paying tribute to Jack B. Weil, a distinguished 
citizen. His leadership has been exemplary and his contributions are 
rich in consequence. On behalf of the citizens of the 1st Congressional 
District, I wish to express our admiration and gratitude for the life 
of Jack Weil. Our thoughts are with Jack Weil Sr., Steven Weil, Jane 
Romberg, Judy Oksner and his three grandchildren.

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