Sharon Magness Blake, known throughout Colorado as one who “Gives so selflessly to those who need it most,” was honored as the 2025 Citizen of the West at a dinner Monday, that raised some $647,000 for the National Western Scholarship Trust.

An equine enthusiast — four of her Arabian horses have gained fame as Thunder, mascot of the Denver Broncos — entrepreneur and philanthropist, Magness Blake has spearheaded events that have raised over $100 million for dozens of organizations, including Volunteers of America, Denver Council of Boy Scouts of America, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Denver Health Foundation, the National Repertory Orchestra and the University of Colorado Foundation.

She founded, with Jean Galloway, Western Fantasy that for 30 years was VOA Colorado’s signature fundraiser, raising $35 million for VOA’s mission of feeding the hungry, providing emergency shelter and offering human service programs designed to enrich the mind, body and heart. VOA’s former chief executive, Dianna Kunz, showed her appreciation for Magness Blake’s generosity by offering the invocation that preceded dinner.

Western Fantasy always began with Magness Blake riding Thunder around the perimeter of the National Western Event Center as Lee Greenwood, either in person or via video, sang “God Bless the USA.”

So it was only natural that an adaptation of that tradition would be part of the Citizen of the West dinner, which also was held in the National Western Event Center.

Just six weeks into recovery from back surgery, Magness Blake gingerly mounted Thunder to make the red-carpet ride from the event center’s paddock area, site of the pre-dinner cocktail reception, to the stage-side table shared with her husband, retired attorney and former Breckenridge mayor Ernie Blake — and a host of friends.

As she rode in, a video played of Greenwood and members of the military singing “God Bless the USA.” Later, in a video salute to Magness Blake, Greenwood joined other close friends such as Garth Brooks and Michelle Sie Whitten in singing her praises.

“Sharon and Ernie are two of the best human beings on planet earth,” Brooks said. “She truly embodies the spirit of the West.”

Magness Blake acknowledged her health in her acceptance remarks.

“In the last two years I’ve had some serious health issues, so I am very grateful just to be here,” she said. “I’m just a horse girl who grew up in the concrete streets of Philadelphia” who attended her first National Western Stock Show 38 years ago and instantly became enamored of all that it stands for.

Since then, she has become a trustee of the show and member of its $150 million Honoring the Legacy Capital Campaign committee.

“What a great and glorious evening it is to honor our friend Sharon Magness Blake,” said capital campaign chair Pete Coors, who also served as chairman of the Citizen of the West steering committee. “Where there’s thunder, there’s lightning and you are our lightning.”

The 1,000 guests included the governors of Colorado and Wyoming, Jared Polis and Mark Gordon; Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who thanked the honoree for giving him “One of my childhood delights,” seeing Thunder gallop across the field at Mile High Stadium whenever the Broncos scored a touchdown; and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Also:

• Paul Andrews, who is soon to retire following 15 years as the National Western’s president/CEO
• Former Citizens of the West Dick and Eddie Robinson
• Kelly Brough, president/CEO of the Fitzsimons Innovation Community
• J.J. Ament, president/CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey and wife, Maggie, who chaired the Citizen of the West Arrangements Committee in 2015 and 2016
• 2025 Arrangements Committee Chair Jennifer Jones Paton
• Miss Rodeo America Callie Mueller, Miss Rodeo Colorado Sierra Southerland and Miss Rodeo Wyoming Dusty Miller
• Dr. Gregg LaBerge, director of the Denver Crime Lab
• Political consultant Katie Behnke
• Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo
• Rico Munn, former superintendent of the Aurora Public Schools who is now vice president/Metro Denver Engagement and Strategy for Colorado State University
• Attorney Holly Shilliday, managing partner of the Colorado office of McCarthy & Holthus
• Robert and Judi Newman. He founded J.D. Edwards and now owns and manages a venture capital company, Greenwood Gulch Ventures. She served on the Citizen of the West Steering Committee
• Brandis Becky, a 20-year Steering Committee member who purchased a table to honor the memory of her late mother, Anita Becky, who had been active in the National Western Stock Show since the early 1960s when she and her husband, the late Dr. Joseph Becky, started raising Angus cattle, buffaloes and quarter horses on their ranch in rural Colorado.

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Associated Press

Houston Rockets (26-12, second in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (24-15, fourth in the Western Conference)

Denver; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rockets -2.5; over/under is 232

BOTTOM LINE: Denver hosts the Houston Rockets after Jamal Murray scored 45 points in the Denver Nuggets’ 118-99 victory against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Nuggets are 16-10 in conference play. Denver is 6-4 in one-possession games.

The Rockets have gone 17-8 against Western Conference opponents. Houston leads the NBA with 48.6 rebounds per game led by Alperen Sengun averaging 10.4.

The Nuggets’ 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.6 fewer made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets allow. The Rockets average 113.3 points per game, 2.4 fewer than the 115.7 the Nuggets allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 51.9% and averaging 18.7 points for the Nuggets.

Sengun is scoring 19.3 points per game with 10.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Rockets.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 8-2, averaging 122.3 points, 47.7 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.

Rockets: 7-3, averaging 114.3 points, 46.7 rebounds, 20.9 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.7 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Vlatko Cancar: out (knee).

Rockets: Jock Landale: out (personal), Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Jabari Smith Jr.: out (hand).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

A Phoenix-based flight attendant is one of two people who died over the weekend following a seemingly unprovoked stabbing spree in downtown Denver.

Celinda Levno, 71, is being remembered by loved ones and members within her industry for a career that spanned decades serving flight passengers. Efforts are underway to fund a funeral for Levno.

Authorities have arrested a man as a murder suspect in the fatal attacks that left two survivors as the investigation continues. Here is everything we know about the attacks and the Arizona woman who lost her life.

How did the stabbing unfold?

A woman died Saturday in a stabbing attack near 16th Street Mall, a shopping center in downtown Denver, according to Denver police. There were also three men assaulted, leading to the deaths of two. The first three stabbings took place Saturday, while the fourth stabbing, which was also fatal, happened Sunday.

The fourth stabbing victim was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the surviving stabbing victims suffered serious injuries or injuries that were not life-threatening.  

Who is the suspect?

Elijah Caudill, 24, is charged on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the four stabbings and was jailed as of Monday, police said. The area of 16th and Wynkoop streets was searched by police, who found Caudill with a knife and matching the suspect’s description, the Denver Police Department said.

Police said the attack appeared to be random. A potential motive was being investigated, police added.

The suspect was described by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston as a Colorado-born white male with a criminal history who was released from jail in November 2024. 

Who was Levno?

The woman killed in the stabbing was Levno, an American Airlines flight attendant, according to an Association of Professional Flight Attendants spokesperson on Tuesday. Levno, who was on a layover in Denver, started more than three decades ago at America West before its merger with American Airlines, the APFA said.

American Airlines confirmed Levno’s death was a result of a “senseless crime,” offering condolences and assuring its cooperation with law enforcement in the investigation.

A GoFundMe page was created by Jessica Dale, a friend of Levno, to help pay for funeral expenses.

Levno is survived by her husband, John, and her sister, Melanie, according to the GoFundMe page. Her Facebook page reveals she was a concert flutist, and the GoFundMe page mentioned she was deeply involved in the Arabian horse industry.

“She will now be with us every stride, and her love for horses will be carried on through all of us,” Dale told The Arizona Republic in a statement. 

‘Senseless crime’: Phoenix-based flight attendant died during Denver layover