Peers recall lasting legacy former city manager Lew Quigley left on Pueblo

Longtime peers understand the impact Lewis “Lew” Quigley had on Pueblo. They also know about the pride and passion he showed for the Steel City and his eagerness to shape it better than it was the day before.

"He was an icon who flew under the radar,” said Doug Proal, vice president of the Pueblo West Metro Board. “He was probably the longest-tenured city manager in Pueblo and he was quite an asset to this board. I appreciated his friendship and I will miss him.”

On Aug. 7, friends and family lost Quigley, who died at age 88. But they and others who knew him are celebrating and honoring his memory. Mayor Nick Gradisar during a city council meeting Monday said city staff will explore how to best form a memorial to honor Quigley.

“He was instrumental in creating lots of things in the city of Pueblo and I think it’s worthy to take some efforts to make sure he’s remembered,” Gradisar said.

Quigley helped reshape Pueblo as city manager

Quigley was 40 when he was hired in 1975 to head the city’s parks and recreation department. He retired 25 years later in 2000 and left a lasting mark on those close to him, personally and professionally. He was known for his charm and his habit of chewing on a toothpick. A 1986 Chieftain article described him as a “folksy, toothpick-chewing” assistant city manager.

In 1987, Quigley took over as city manager and almost immediately generated praise from department heads and the city council.

“He’s just one of those guys who grasps the situation and makes the best of it,” said Allyn Middelkamp, then a city councilor. Middelkamp also said that Quigley was “easy to work with” and had everybody “working as a team.”

Quigley was clear about how he wanted to approach his role and in a 1987 Chieftain article said that the greatest reward it gave him was to “help people who might not otherwise have a voice in government.”

Quigley’s working style and focus helped lead to the development of the Pueblo Convention Center and the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, among countless other projects.

“I enjoyed my years on city council working with Lew,” wrote Corinne Koehler under Quigley’s obituary online. “He had the best interest of Pueblo at heart and worked on so many great projects that enhanced the community for all. We'll miss Lew’s knowledge and history of the community.”

Quigley wasn’t without some criticism during his tenure as city manager, but he told the Chieftain during his retirement that he tried not to focus on that and just did what he thought was right. Ultimately, despite suspecting he might move on from serving as city manager in Pueblo for a brief period, he had one of the longest tenures ever held by someone in that position.

'He loved it and they loved him'

Quickly continued to serve Pueblo despite retiring as city manager in late 2000. He was a board member for the Pueblo West Metro District from 2010 to 2016 and was appointed city manager in Florence in 2010. He remained in that role for nearly two years.

He also served as interim manager in Elizabeth, Fowler and Walsenburg and was an assistant to the Costilla County Commission.

“He loved it and they loved him,” wrote Sam Mamet, former executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, under Quigley’s obituary on his tenures as interim manager. “Best of all, (he was) a great friend and colleague to me.”

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Pueblo West Board Member Bill Vickers also took time to honor Quigley during a meeting Monday and said although he and Quigley did not always see eye to eye when they served on a past board together, "he had a lot of good ideas and a lot of experience."

Rich Golenda, a city councilor in 2000, perhaps said it best, saying at the time that Quigley's signature was “indelibly stamped” on Pueblo.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon contributed to this report.

Chieftain reporter Josue Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @josuepwrites. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Lew Quigly remembered for pride he had for Pueblo as city manager