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Nick DeLuca was born in Columbia, Utah in 1931. He moved with his family to Colorado, first living in Denver, then Hayden and Mt. Harris. He started working in the coal mines in Mt. Harris and then enrolled in the Colorado School of Trades in Denver. He became a machinist and assistant foreman working in the Mt. Harris mines until they closed and he then moved to Craig. Nick DeLuca and Bob Sweeney started the Hayden Valley Press as co-owners in the late 1960's. Nick began as printer and photographer and moved back to Hayden as editor, spending a total of 11 years on the paper. The paper became recognized as a fine weekly, winning many awards from the Colorado Press Association. DeLuca won top awards for editorial excellence and photography. He was one of the 12 finalists in the international Golden Quill competition for weekly newspaper editorials. Nick DeLuca also rode Brahma bulls in rodeos and trained and rode race horses owning several registered quarter horses. Another interest was golf and Nick won the Yampa Valley Open in 1970. He began work in law enforcement in 1976 as a Special Deputy for the Sheriff's Office and also as relief for the Hayden Police Department. He ran for Sheriff and was elected in November 1978, taking office in January 1979. He resigned the office of Sheriff in January 1982. Nick DeLuca died in an automobile accident on April 13, 1982 east of Hayden and was buried in the Hayden Cemetery. He was eulogized by Hayden Police Chief Lenahan as "a good man and the town of Hayden and everybody around here really feels the loss".
Resource:
Steamboat Pilot, April 15, 1982
© 2004 Joyce Cusick nacpinc@hotmail.com
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