A Bronze Star and a Green Thumb

By Lily Connelly

Patrick Gallavan. Source: *The Green Thumb* on the Internet Archive.

Patrick Gallavan. Source: Horan & McConaty.

A photo that Pat took of a Kentucky coffee tree in Cheesman Park for the cover of a 1959 edition of *The Green Thumb Magazine* while Pat was editor. Source: *The Green Thumb* on The Internet Archive.

A pronghorn antelope made of red and yellow coleus plants designed by Pat at the Denver Zoo, 1970. Photo by Dick Davies. Source: *The Rocky Mountain News* on coloradohistoricnewspapers.org.

Patrick “Pat” James Gallavan

March 6, 1925 - March 3, 2015

“...It is the preservation of wilderness areas, national parks, and monuments that give us fleeting glimpses of the wonders that nature has created. It is the parks, the gardens, and other recreational facilities that provide a constructive outlet for our leisure time. It is the homes, the schools, the juvenile courts, and other related factors that mold the greatest of our resources—the youth of the nation. Yes, conservation is all of these things and more. It is a way of life. If its true meaning, the wise use of all our natural resources, were understood by everyone and then applied to everyday living, the future prosperity of our nation would be assured.”[1]

- Patrick J. Gallavan, “Conservation–What is it?” The Green Thumb, Oct-Nov. 1955

Patrick “Pat” Gallavan was born on March 6, 1925, in Durango, Colorado.[2] At the time, Durango was a mining and ranching town with a stop on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad close by in Silverton. The town had become a tourist destination at the turn of the 20th century as the nearby San Juan National Forest and Mesa Verde National Park were developed.[3] The Million Dollar Highway, which starts in Durango, had been completed the year before he was born.[4 ] However, once the Great Depression began, the once-booming vacation destination was hit with economic hardship, as tourism declined and the price for gold, silver, and other materials dropped.[5] Pat was one of eight children belonging to Richard and Regenia Gallavan.[6] Richard was a World War I Army veteran.[7] He became a manager and part-owner of a grocery store.[8] Before his enlistment, Pat had finished high school and worked part-time at the Wahler Co. Grocery store.[9]

Pat enlisted in the Army at the beginning of June 1943, at the age of 18, and was active until the end of March 1946.[10] His rank at the end of his service was a Fifth-Grade Technician, so he was paid more for a specialized trade or skill.[11] Not much else is known about which Infantry Division he was in or where he served. For his service, Pat was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for heroism, achievement, or meritorious service in non-aerial combat.[12]

After his service, Pat enrolled at the University of Denver and studied Botany, likely using the G.I. Bill. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Botany at DU.[13] He was living in a boarding house in Capitol Hill when he met his future wife, Esther, whom he would marry in 1947 and have three children with.[14] In 1950, he was hired as an arborist for the Denver Forestry Department.[15] Pat would have been responsible for maintaining and caring for trees and shrubs in the Denver area throughout the seasons. He could have also done pruning or trimming, monitored drought levels, and assessed and treated trees affected by diseases or insects.[16] While researching and nurturing Denver’s trees, Pat helped identify a new kind of disease found in birch trees.[17] He studied fire blight control, a bacterial disease that affects some fruit trees; he also researched how to treat chlorosis, which happens when plants are nutrient-deficient and start to turn yellow.[18]

He became editor of The Green Thumb magazine for a time in the mid-to-late 1950s, a publication under the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association dedicated to gardening advice; he also wrote occasional columns for The Rocky Mountain News.[19] Pat wrote about a myriad of gardening advice: seasonal suggestions for planting throughout the year, how to prevent dandelions, the key to growing roses, and more. He hosted garden club meetings at his home, judged flower shows, and was sought after by gardening clubs to give talks in and around the Denver Metro area.[20] He hosted a Green Thumb radio program on Saturday mornings; he was the presenter of Garden Guide on television on Wednesday evenings.[21] The Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association would later become the Denver Botanic Gardens, of which Pat and Esther were benefactors for years.[22] In his obituary, it says, “If it grew, Pat knew something about it.”[23]

Pat then landed his dream job as the superintendent of the Denver Mountain Parks from 1960 to 1970.[24] The Denver Mountain Parks System has over 40 public parks, including Red Rocks Park, Lookout Mountain Park, Summit Lake Park, Winter Park, and many others.[25] As the superintendent, he managed the maintenance of the roads, parking lots, and facilities alongside the lakes, forests, and overall parks.[2 6 ] He oversaw the naming of Summit Lake Park in Evergreen as a National Natural Landmark in 1965.[27] He would also announce fire bans during wildfire season.[28] The growing population in Denver and nearby developing areas created competition for funding between the urban and the mountain parks.[29] The increase in population and visitors meant that the mountain parks needed more repairs and improved and upgraded facilities.[30] He endeavored to secure more funds and grants for the parks, but it was an uphill battle. In 1964, Pat lobbied for a larger budget to improve the parks, but he received only 1% of the original amount he asked for.[31] He established a program where youths could work on park projects as an alternative to jail. He also worked to arrange for men from surrounding Denver-area jails to work on park maintenance.[32]

In 1970, he was named Director of the Denver Zoo.[33] As the Director, Pat would have overseen the general operations and ensured the zoo ran smoothly, so he likely would have supervised maintenance, staffing, budgeting, and fundraising.[34] Pat’s last job was Deputy Manager of the Denver Parks System, which he held for two years before his retirement in 1986.[35] The Denver parks include Cheesman Park, City Park, Washington Park, and numerous other urban parks.[3 6 ] He also inspected the grass at the then-Mile High Stadium after Broncos games as the Deputy Manager.[37]

Pat passed away on March 3, 2015, just short of his 90th birthday, six years after his daughter Gay Lynn, and five years after Esther.[38] Donations in his name after his passing raised $1,200 for the Mountain Parks Foundation, specifically to support the historic Mountain Parks Bison Herds that reside in Daniels Park in Douglas County and Genesee Park in Jefferson County.[39]

Footnotes ↓

[1] Patrick J. Gallavan, “Conservation–What is it?” The Green Thumb, Oct-Nov., 1955, pg. 11, The Denver Botanic Gardens Helen Fowler Library on the Internet Archive, accessed August 30, 2025, https://archive.org/details/greenthumb1219unse/page/n299/mode/2up?q=Patrick&view=theater.

[2] “US, WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1940,” fold3.com, entry for Patrick James Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025.

[3] “City of Durango History,” City of Durango, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.durangoco.gov/274/History; Kathy Alexander, “Durango, Colorado–Railroad Town of the Southwest,” Legends of America, May 2025, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/durango-colorado/.

[4] Ibid.

[5] “Southwestern Colorado in the Modern Era,” in Frontier in Transition: A History of Southwestern Colorado, BLM, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/blm/co/10/chap11.htm.

[6] “1940 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, entry for Patrick Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025.

[7] “U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985,” ancestry.com, entry for Richard L. Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025.

[8] “1940 Census”; “1930 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, entry for Richard L. Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025.

[9] “The Toltec,” The Animas Museum, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.animasmuseum.org/yearbooks/1927_Toltec_Demon_Number.pdf; “Patrick Gallavan WWII Draft Registration Card.”

[10] “World War II Army Enlistment Records ca.1938-1946,” The National Archives, entry for Patrick J. Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025, https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=6&cat=TS14&tf=F&q=Gallavan&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=6669720&rlst=2804186,5768481,6669720,8113182,8366924,204846.

[11] “What Was a “Tech Sergeant” in World War II?” Veterans Breakfast Club, accessed August 30, 2025, https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/what-was-a-tech-sergeant-in-world-war-ii/; “U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current,” ancestry.com, entry for Patrick James Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025.

[12] “Patrick Gallavan Find a Grave”; “Bronze Star Medal,” Roll of Honor, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.rollofhonor.org/public/htmldetails.aspx?Cat=award&EntID=4001.

[13] “Honoring Patrick J. Gallavan.”

[14] Horan & McConaty, “Obituary for Esther A Gallavan 1924-2010,” accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.horancares.com/obituaries/esther-gallavan.

[15] Jason Blevins, “Pat Gallavan, former director of Denver’s parks, dies at age 89,” The Denver Post, April 26, 2016, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.denverpost.com/2015/03/05/pat-gallavan-former-director-of-denvers-parks-dies-at-age-89/.

[16] “What Does an Arborist Do?” American Arborists, March 13, 2017, accessed August 30, 2025, https://americanarborists.net/tree-tips/what-is-an-arborist-anyway/.

[17] Robert L. Woerner, “The Botanical Gardens Foundation,” The Green Thumb, May 1958, p. 128, accessed August 30, 2025, https://archive.org/details/greenthumb1519unse/page/128/mode/2up

[18] Ibid.; “Fire Blight: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment,” Independent Tree, November 13, 2019, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.independenttree.com/fire-blight/.

[19] Woerner, “The Botanical Gardens Foundation”; ”Honoring Patrick J. Gallavan”; Patrick J. Gallavan, “Denver Makes Use of These Hybrids,” The Rocky Mountain News, March 25, 1967, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19670325-01.2.110&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------.

[20] “Several Thousand Attend Flower and Garden Show,” Colorado Springs Gazette, July 3, 1964, accessed August 30, 2025, https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/65612577/; Patrick J. Gallavan, “Those Pesky Dandelions!” The Rocky Mountain News, April 29, 1967, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19670429-01.2.182&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------; “Plan To Attend,” Greeley Daily Tribune, March 16, 1956, accessed August 30, 2025, https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/24983057; “Garden Show To Open May 16,” The Rocky Mountain News, March 28, 1958, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19580328-01.2.93&srpos=37&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------; Ruth Neale, “Ruth Reports on Hoffman Heights,” The Aurora Advocate, April 3, 1952, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=AUA19520403-01.2.39&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------; Patrick Gallavan, “Seasonal Suggestions,” The Green Thumb, August 1959, p. 249, accessed August 30, 2025, https://archive.org/details/greenthumb1619unse/page/248/mode/2up.

[21] “Calendar of Events,” The Green Thumb, 1957 index, p. 41-165, accessed August 30, 2025, https://archive.org/details/greenthumb1419unse_0/page/40/mode/2up; “Obituary for Patrick Gallavan,”; Blevins, “Former Director of Denver’s Parks Dies.”

[22] “Benefactors 1982 & 1983,” Denver Botanic Gardens Annual Report, 1983, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=DBG19820101-01.2.12&srpos=85&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------; “Gifts, Members and Tributes,” Denver Botanic Gardens Annual Report, January 1996, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=DBG19960101-01.2.16&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------.

[23] “Obituary for Patrick Gallavan.”

[24] Ibid.

[25] “In Honor of Pat Gallavan,” Denver Mountain Parks Foundation, March 6, 2015, accessed August 30, 2025, https://mountainparksfoundation.org/in-honor-of-pat-gallavan/.

[26] Ibid.

[27] Ibid.

[28] “Fire Ban Issued For Mountain Parks,” The Rocky Mountain News, August 18, 1962, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19620818-01.2.15&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------.

[29] “In Honor of Pat Gallavan”; Wendy Rex-Atzet, “Denver Mountain Parks,” Colorado Encyclopedia, accessed August 30, 2025, https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/denver-mountain-parks.

[30] “Denver Mountain Parks.”

[31] “In Honor of Pat Gallavan.”

[32] Blevins, “Former Director of Denver’s Parks Dies”; “Branches of the Past: Stories from the CNGA Community,” Newsleaf, February 17, 2025, accessed August 30, 2025, https://newsleaf.org/branches-of-the-past-stories-from-the-cnga-community/.

[33] Blevins, “Former Director of Denver’s Parks Dies.”

[34] Mary Hope Kramer, “Get Career Info on Being a Zoo Director,” liveabout.com, October 10, 2019, accessed August 30, 2025 https://www.liveabout.com/zoo-director-125935; “Children’s zoo is home for grand champion lamb,” The Rocky Mountain News, April 4, 1970, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD19700404-01.2.72&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------.

[35] Blevins, “Former Director of Denver’s Park Dies.”

[36] “Denver Park and Parkway System Thematic Resource,” History Colorado, accessed August 30, 2025, https://www.historycolorado.org/denver-park-and-parkway-system-thematic-resource.

[37] “Obituary for Patrick Gallavan.”

[38] “Patrick Gallavan Find a Grave”; “U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current,” ancestry.com, entry for Esther A. Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025; “U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” ancestry.com, entry for Gay L. Gallavan, accessed August 30, 2025; “Obituary for Esther A. Gallavan.”

[39] “Daniels Park,” Denver Mountain Parks Foundation, accessed August 30, 2025, https://mountainparksfoundation.org/parks/daniels-park/; “Genesee and Katherine Craig Parks,” Denver Mountain Parks Foundation, accessed August 30, 2025, https://mountainparksfoundation.org/parks/genesee-and-katherine-craig-parks/; “In Honor of Pat Gallavan.”