[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 70 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF DENNIS GALLAGHER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues, 
Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Jason Crow, and Congressman Joe 
Neguse, to recognize one of Denver's most beloved public servants, 
Dennis Gallagher, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 82.
  Dennis's lifelong passion for wanting to change people's lives for 
the better can be traced to his earliest days. Born in north Denver in 
1939, just as the Great Depression was ending, to first generation 
Irish American parents, Dennis saw firsthand the hard struggles many 
families faced merely trying to survive. And those early experiences 
shaped him. He felt called to a life of constant learning, teaching, 
and advocating on behalf of others.
  After receiving his bachelor's degree from Regis University in 1961, 
Dennis set out to Washington, D.C., where he earned his master's degree 
from Catholic University in 1967. Afterwards, when he returned home to 
Denver, Dennis began working as a professor at his alma mater Regis 
University, where he would spend more than 40 years teaching and 
mentoring students in speech, classical languages, persuasion, and 
media.
  Early in his career as an educator, Dennis also discovered he could 
positively affect people's lives through politics, so he ran for office 
and won. First elected to Colorado's state House of Representatives in 
1970, Dennis spent two terms representing his community in the state 
House before moving to the state Senate where he would serve the people 
of his district for the next 20 years. As a senator, Dennis notably 
worked to pass the ``Gallagher Amendment'' to the state's constitution, 
a policy that set limits on property taxes for homeowners and renters. 
Dennis eventually went on to serve his community as a member of the 
Denver City Council beginning in 1995, and then as the city's auditor 
starting in 2003, a position he held for more than a decade until his 
retirement in 2015.
  Everyone who knew Dennis, including each of us, could describe him in 
at least two ways. First, Dennis was a larger-than-life figure who 
never hesitated to speak his mind or make friends with someone new. It 
cannot be overstated that Dennis was extremely well known, not just in 
Denver but across our state as well. In fact, the power of Dennis's 
outgoing personality was key to his success in public service. At every 
level of government that he served, Dennis earned the respect and 
support of both his colleagues and his constituents.
  Second, anyone who knew Dennis could tell you he was deeply proud of 
his Irish heritage. He was famous for hosting St. Patrick's Day 
celebrations, complete with musicians and step dancers. And though he 
maintained close ties with Colorado's Irish community, Dennis always 
made room to learn more about people from different backgrounds with 
diverse perspectives.
  Truly, there will never be another Dennis Gallagher. Those of us who 
knew him well are grateful for the time we got to spend with him, and 
we will be forever thankful for his service to our community. He was a 
legendary leader, teacher, and friend to all of us, including me and my 
family.
  As our community mourns the loss of a true giant, we offer our 
heartfelt condolences to Dennis's family and friends, especially to his 
son Daniel Gallagher and his brother Tim Gallagher. Dennis Gallagher 
will be sorely missed, but it's quite clear that his legacy will endure 
for many years to come.

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