Colorado State University’s Alumni Association Honors Local Boosters with Distinguished Athletic Award

A prominent family from the local business community will be honored for three decades of visionary support to Colorado State University and the Fort Collins communities with the Distinguished Athletic Award, given by the university’s Alumni Association.

Bob and Doris Reynolds will receive the award at the university’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Program on April 26. Longtime supporters of Colorado State’s Athletic Department, the Reynolds have given generously to athletic programs and scholarship funds and were also leaders in developing long-term assistance and development opportunities for the university and its student athletes.

"Bob and Doris Reynolds were the stalwarts of athletic support for many decades and their continued support, involvement and vision have helped pave the way for the success the athletic department now enjoys," said Jeffrey Hathaway, director of athletics at Colorado State. "They have remained leaders not only with the athletic department and the greater university, but also with the Fort Collins community."

Bob and Doris Reynolds moved to Fort Collins in 1972 and opened Reynolds Oldsmobile Cadillac, a fixture of the city’s business community until their retirement in 1996.

"The Reynolds have remained advocates for the youth of Fort Collins, helping to provide elementary through college age student-athletes opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and in life," Hathaway said.

Through their automobile dealership, the Reynolds provided Colorado State’s athletic department with financial support and gifts in kind. To increase long-term revenue by providing premium seating at Hughes Stadium, the couple helped create the Rams’ Horn, a special category of the Greater Ram Club.

With friend Thurman "Fum" McGraw, former Colorado State athletic director and All-American athlete, Bob and Doris Reynolds established an annual golf tournament. Now, three decades later, the Mapelli Memorial Gold Tournament generates funding for the general athletic scholarship fund.

The Reynolds, again with McGraw’s support and assistance, helped initiate a celebrity golf tournament that also raised money for the athletic department. Additionally, to honor their late son-in-law, Bart Tompkins, the Reynolds and colleague Jim Smith started the Bart Tompkins Memorial Fund to provide scholarship support to a member of Colorado State’s golf program.

Beyond support for Colorado State, Bob and Doris Reynolds continue to provide backing to many local youth sports teams. They established and maintained the Tri-High Invitational Golf Tournament in the late 1980s that helped save the city’s prep golf programs, and have additionally supported several youth baseball, soccer and basketball teams.