Beloved author Kent Haruf, who taught for many years in Yuma and whose novels captured the spirit of the eastern plains, was honored posthumously this past Saturday with induction into the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame.
The ceremony, held before a sold-out audience at the DoubleTree Hilton in Denver’s Tech Center, included dinner, a silent auction, and the formal induction of 12 other writers.
Accepting the honor on his behalf were his three daughters, Sorel, Whitney and Chaney. Each spoke about their father’s life, his love of storytelling, and the importance of community.
Also attending the evening were Haruf’s sister-in-law Kathy Haruf, along with former Denver Center for the Performing Arts director Kent Thompson and his wife Kathleen McCall, who joined in celebrating the occasion.
Though he is gone, Kent Haruf’s words continue to resonate with readers everywhere — and especially here in Yuma, where he grew up and spent many meaningful years teaching and shaping young lives. His induction into the Hall of Fame is a reminder of the lasting mark one of our own has left on the literary world.