Jack Mincher

When the Associated General Contractors/Colorado (AGC/C) was approached by Nancy Parker, Chair of the Central City Opera Board to lend support to renovation and restoration of many historic structures the Opera owned in Central City, they listened politely and said no thanks. A second appeal was arranged by the AGC/C Marketing Director and at a rather tense board meeting, Jack Mincher stood and said, "let's give this a try." He later chuckled he didn't think a little opera would hurt the AGC/C members any. Jack engaged Larry Snow of Snow Construction to be co-chair for the endeavor and restoration of the opera house was begun, with a fundraising campaign and recruitment of volunteers to begin the work of replacing rotted oak timbers, preserving the three-foot thick stone foundation walls and giving another life to the opera house, which was sinking into Gregory Gulch.

This project was ongoing, with additional restoration at the Teller House and other significant structures in Central City. Jack was proud of this endeavor, which won the Colorado Governor's Award to the Arts and ensured the opera lovers of Colorado and beyond would continue to enjoy the ongoing summer seasons of wonderful music.