On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in downtown Aspen was filled with conversation a few hours earlier than usual. While the establishment opens at 5pm daily, this was a slightly different group than is typical après ski crowd. NGO employees, current and emeritus government officials and community members from across the Roaring Fork Valley gathered to honor the memory and legacy of the longtime, and original, Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) CEO: Randy Udall.
From 5 to 6pm, attendees spoke energetically amongst themselves over charcuterie and cocktails, or perused the information posters around the room, displaying home and community energy efficiency tips and data. Just after 6pm, CORE’s current CEO, John Dougherty, kicked off the speaking portion of the event with an introduction. This included a quick mention of CORE’s Aug. 30 anniversary event, and when the organization launched the Stirling Giving Society, meant for energy and environmental fundraising.
Dougherty honored longtime CORE board members and several that are retiring. He credited board member Dave Monk as playing a significant role in ushering in CORE 2.0. Dougherty then turned the focus to the legacy of James “Randy” Udall, who cofounded CORE in 1984 and served as CEO for its first 13 years. Of Randy, Dougherty said, “His involvement transformed the way we think about energy solutions in the Roaring Fork Valley.” He then introduced Randy’s brother, and former House Representative and Senator, Mark Udall.
Senator Udall spoke expansively and light-heartedly about his late brother, who passed away during a hiking trip in Wyoming’s Wind River mountains in 2013. “My brother inspired me,” he started, and quipped that it sometimes irked him when people assumed Randy was the older sibling. “When we became young adults, most people thought he was older than I was. He was an old soul. He had gravitas.” The former Senator attributed part of that to his younger brother’s passion for sharing information. “Randy loved to teach,” he explained, and launched into an anecdote about Outward Bound courses they had co-facilitated in Canyonlands National Park.
His love for teaching shined when it came to renewable energy and environmental advocacy, said the Senator. “[Randy] made energy cool. He made it interesting.” Referring to how much his brother loved the outdoors and long backcountry adventures, Senator Udall said, “Those journeys were important to him. I think he saw CORE as his societal expedition. He knew it was a hard undertaking and important, and 30 years on, it continues.”
A key piece of that expeditionary work was writing and communication. “[Randy] had a way with words, was a remarkable writer and knew how to point out things others didn’t see.” Senator Udall continued, “CORE is a part of another quiet revolution,” adding that the organization continues his late brother’s work, to change the status quo of local and regional energy economies.
The former Senator then introduced former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, the keynote speaker of the evening, “What’s most impressive about Bill Ritter, this man is a world-class angler and wonderful human being.”
Ritter stepped behind the podium to reminisce about how Randy had consistently advocated for clean energy legislation and systemic change. He shared about how at a Steamboat Springs event, he made a promise to Randy to “do my level best to transition Colorado to being a clean energy hub.” Ritter reiterated Senator Udall’s comments about Randy’s prescience. “Thinking about CORE, thinking about the first presentation I ever saw him give, he was totally keyed in on the global level.”
After Ritter wrapped up, Dougherty took the mic to make an announcement. “As part of Randy’s legacy — we know he had a passion for energy work for younger generations — CORE education initiatives will henceforth bear the name of Randy Udall.” Then, he passed the mic to Randy’s daughter, Tarn Udall, for a few personal comments.
Tarn offered balanced perspectives of her father, such as his staunch passion for environmental advocacy, yet an ambivalence toward formal social environments. “He was a bit of a lone wolf,” she said with a laugh. “This kind of big social event would have been his nightmare.”
Tarn shared that, often, people in Colorado climate work ask themselves, “How would Randy frame this?” It fills her with pride to see her father’s lasting impact all these years later. She said that the organization still models the values her father envisioned at the beginning, “The values of imagination, bravery and collaboration are essential to the work CORE does.”
CORE provides funding and technical assistance for home and business owners to be environmental stewards, reduce energy use and make their living spaces more comfortable. The organization hosts regular events each year. Learn more at www.aspencore.org