Tim Schultz, ’69
Before Colorado Mesa University, it was Mesa College, where Tim Schultz, ’69, would walk from his parents’ bakery to class to earn his associate degree.
True to his Grand Junction roots, after Schultz got his bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado State University, he came back home and became a banker. After a few years, he moved to another small Colorado town, Meeker.
“My heart is in rural Colorado,” said Schultz. “My biggest involvement is around rural Colorado and small towns.”
As a rancher in his early 20s, he ran for the local school board in an effort to save the one-room schoolhouse that was in danger of closing, meaning kids would have to travel one hour each way to school.
“CMU really gave me the background in communication that gave me the confidence to run for the school board at 24 years old,” said Schultz, who has since been a board member for more than 30 organizations.
Just two years after saving the schoolhouse, Schultz ran for county commissioner and became one of the youngest county commissioners in Colorado. These positions launched his career in public service, which included becoming the commissioner of agriculture and head of the Department of Local Affairs before landing at the Boettcher Foundation, where he was president and executive director for 22 years.
Schultz says he began to appreciate local public service as a young man because “you’re accountable in a very unique way.” Rather than working in Washington, D.C., Schultz was running into constituents at the grocery store or pumping gas.
“I found that if you are creative and put yourself out there, you could make big changes, and that became my life,” he said.
Though Schultz retired five years ago, he’s still an active public servant. He’s the vice chairman of the board of the Colorado Trust, a healthcare foundation.
He’s also gives back through the Western Colorado Community Foundation, where the Boettcher Foundation started a fund in honor of his work. It was through this foundation that he and his wife, Debbie, were able to donate to the recently opened Asteria Theatre. The theatre’s concession area was named in recognition of their contribution.
“I’m blessed to have been engaged in so many activities around Colorado,” said Schultz. “I’ve enjoyed being a connector of people.”