October 5, 2014 – Denver, CO
On behalf of the members of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus, we express our sorrow as each of us is deeply saddened by the passing of Former Senator Regis Groff. He was not only a leader for our community, but a mentor, source of personal encouragement, and a friend.
Through both his service in the legislature and his work afterwards, Senator Groff has made outstanding contributions towards the advancement of our community and families throughout Colorado. He will always be remembered for his noteworthy achievements in the State Senate as Minority Leader, co- sponsoring the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday legislation, and promoting policy to put an end to discrimination against African Americans.
For each of us that have followed him in the halls of the Capitol, we feel the impacts of his hard work and strive to continue the legacy he leaves behind. Whether we were running for office or dealing with getting a difficult bill passed, we each share memories of moments when he would flash that familiar smile of his at us and tell us to “hang in there, I know you can do it.” Knowing how many challenges he faced as the Minority Leader in the Senate, his resolve and optimism gave us hope and encouragement to press on.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Callie and his entire family in this most difficult time. We extend our most sincere condolences. He will be greatly missed by all of us.