by Rich Mauro
On July 6, older adults in Colorado lost one of their fiercest and most respected advocates. Herb Homan (age 94) had been a leader in the field of aging for nearly thirty years. Herb’s work promoted the quality of life for Colorado’s older adults immeasurably.
He served as an officer of the Colorado Senior Lobby, a contributor to the Colorado Senior Lobby newsletter, a member of its legislative committee, a legislative liaison, and a member of the committee to put together the Lobby’s Legislative Scorecard. For many years, Herb was the most recognizable member of the Senior Lobby at the State Capitol. His fiscal expertise was such that many legislators including Joint Budget Committee and Finance Committee members sought out his expertise. He served on special task forces and regularly testified for the Senior Lobby on fiscal matters. Herb was respected for his thorough research and the clarity and integrity with which he spoke on issues. As recently as this past legislative session, Herb could be seen testifying in support of legislation to increase an income tax rebate for certain senior housing expenses.
In recognition of his outstanding leadership and strong advocacy, Herb was chosen to receive the prestigious Colorado Commission on Aging “Allen Buckingham Senior Leadership Award” in 2006.
Herb grew up in the Bay Area of Northern California – after toddling at 6 months (he’s told) across the border from Arizona. He was working as a federal stenographer at an Army subsistence warehouse when he was drafted in WW II and served two years in Iceland as secretary to the Base Quartermaster. (Later he joined the Army Reserve for 25 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. (Civil Affairs).
Herb attended the University of California at Berkeley under the GI Bill and graduated in 1948 with a degree in political science. He worked for Alameda County, the Naval Supply Depot in Oakland, and the City of Hayward in statistical, personnel classification, and management posts from 1948-1960. Herb came to Colorado in 1961 as Denver’s recruitment officer for 11 years. After gaining a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, he served as Personnel Director/Budget Officer and the Assistant City Manager in Aurora 1972-78. Herb retired in 1985, after seven years back with the federal government as an Administrative Officer in the Department of Interior’s local Office of Surface Mining.
In addition to his many activities with the Colorado Senior Lobby, Herb was active in NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees), including holding leadership roles in that organization. He also participated in his neighborhood organization, veterans groups, and other groups advocating for the public good. In what seemingly little spare time he had left, Herb’s retirement hobbies included gardening and biking (even until he was 90!).
Still, he once said his most satisfying retirement activity was participating in the successful 2005 Referendum C campaign when the voters approved a five-year moratorium on the TABOR tax and spending limitation. He was hopeful “a more reasonable arrangement can be devised and adopted for funding government in the future. Achieving a proper balance between public and private enterprise is a never-ending challenge; both are essential to a good society.”
Despite all these activities and accomplishments, Herb was a quiet gentleman who would never toot his own horn. But he was the kind of person that when he spoke, everyone listened. And advocates for older adults in Colorado will continue to hear his voice for many years to come.