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<br /> <br />GREG WALCHER <br />Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources, State of Colorado <br />(Denver) <br />Greg Walcher was appointed to Colorado Governor Bill Owens' Cabinet as Executive Director of <br />the Department of Natural Resources in January 1999. He brings to the position 20 years experience <br />in natural resource issues. <br />From 1989-99, Greg served as President of CLUB 20, the Western Slope promotional organiza- <br />tion. During his tenure, CLUB 20 nearly tripled the size of its membership and budget, and he was <br />credited with bring a new level of activity, visibility and effectiveness to the Western Slope. <br />Prior to his CLUB 20 tenure, Greg spent ten years in Washington, D.C. on the staff of U.S. <br />Senator Bill Armstrong, including 5 years as Executive Director. He handled issues as diverse as <br />transportation, agriculture, governmental affairs and natural resources. <br />A 5th generation native of Colorado, Greg was born and raised in Grand Junction and received his degree from Mesa State <br />College, where he served as student body president and became a national college debate champion. He and his wife Diana operate <br />a IS-acre peach orchard in Palisade. <br /> <br />Special Guests: 'Living Legends in Western Water' Series <br /> <br /> <br />JOHN M. SAYRE <br />Attorney at Law (Denver) <br />John Sayre's association with Davis, Graham & Stubbs, LLP began in 1966, as a partner in the <br />natural resources department, with a focus on water and municipal corporate work. He retired from <br />the firm in 1989 upon his appointment by President Bush as Assistant Secretary of the Department <br />of the Interior for Water and Science, where he had supervisory and management responsibilities for <br />the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Mines. John returned the <br />firm in 1993 to continue his practice with the environmental, water and natural resources group. <br />He represented the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District for many years. He has creat- <br />ed and dissolved water and sanitation districts, participated in numerous financing and bond issue <br />matters, worked with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on hydroelectric projects, and has <br />done legislative work for the Districts, the Colorado Municipal League, the Colorado Water <br />Congress, and the National Water Resources Association. John has also handled matters involving <br />the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Corps of Engineers. <br />John has served as charter member and on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Water Congress. He was Director of the <br />Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (1960-1964); and Colorado Director of the NWRA (1980-1989), as well as President <br />from 1984 to 1986. A member of the American Water Works Association and the U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage; John <br />was also legal counsel for the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry. <br />John Sayre received his B.A. (cum laude) at the University of Colorado in 1943, and his J.D. in 1948. From 1943 to 1946, he was <br />a U.S. Navy officer. After law school, he was in private practice with a Boulder firm. During this period, he also served as City <br />Attorney in Boulder (1951-1955) and as general counsel to the Colorado Municipal League. <br /> <br />RET. BRIGADIER GENERAL FELIX L. SPARKS <br /> <br />(in an exclusive video interview at his Denver home) <br />Mr. Sparks' outstanding achievements could easily fill several lifetimes. A retired United States <br />Army Brigadier General, his forty years of active and reserve service (Artillery and Infantry) includ- <br />ed eight campaigns in the European Theater during WW II with the 45th Infantry Division. He was <br />awarded the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation <br />Medal, the Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the French <br />Croix de Guerre. <br /> <br />After the war, he received his L.L.B. at the University of Colorado in 1948. Over the course of <br />his long career in law and water, Felix Sparks was senior partner in the law firm of Sparks, Conklin <br />& Carroll (Delta, Colorado). He has served as District Attorney, 7th Judicial District of Colorado <br />and as a Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. He has been Director of the Colorado Department <br />of Natural Resources and the Colorado Water Conservation Board; Colorado Commissioner for both the Arkansas River Compact <br />Commission and the Upper Colorado River Compact Commission; and was legal counsel for the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. <br /> <br />In addition, he was also Vice-President of Skyland Food Corporation and Director of United Bank of Delta. Currently Mr. Sparks <br />is President of the organization 'PUNCH' (Parents United - No Children's Handguns). <br /> <br />PHOTO <br />NOT <br />AVAILABLE <br />