Published in the Oklahoman, 14 Jan 1988:
"Cowboy Hall Benefactor Dies In Colorado Springs at Age 91"
Jasper D. Ackerman, a founder and director-emeritus of Oklahoma City's National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, died Wednesday in Colorado Springs.
Ackerman, 91, was a prominent Colorado Springs rancher and banker.
Born Oct. 22, 1896, in Buffalo, Wyo., Ackerman's family moved to Colorado Springs in a covered wagon when he was a young boy.
He served in World War I and was highly decorated as a Lieutenant Colonel during World War II for his distinguished service on European battlefields.
Ackerman started work as an elevator operator for Exchange National Bank in Colorado Springs around 1916 and worked his way up to majority owner, chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of the bank before leaving it 54 years later.
Ackerman also was the founder of Air Academy National Bank in Colorado Springs and served as its chairman, president, and chief executive officer before selling his controlling interest in the bank two years ago. He served as chairman emeritus of the bank until his death.
"He was very highly regarded as a rancher and one of the premier bankers of Colorado Springs," said Hal Littrell, president of Air Academy Bank.
Among those who knew him well, he also was known for his quiet philanthropic activities.
"He was heavily involved with charitable activities particularly those involving youth like the YMCA and Boy Scouts," Littrell said.
"He helped many children many minorities through college by paying their tuition," Littrell said. "He would find out a cleaning lady wanted her kids to go to college and he would give her the money.
He would not want the kids to know until they had finished their education."
Ackerman was also a major benefactor of the Cowboy Hall, financing several of its major pieces of art, said executive director Byron Price.
"He is more or less a legend at the hall," Price said.
Ackerman was quick to honor other people, but he didn't want other people to honor him, Littrell said.
"He certainly will be missed by all the people who knew him at the hall over these many years," Price said. "People would do well to follow his good example."
"Cowboy Hall Benefactor Dies In Colorado Springs at Age 91"
Jasper D. Ackerman, a founder and director-emeritus of Oklahoma City's National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, died Wednesday in Colorado Springs.
Ackerman, 91, was a prominent Colorado Springs rancher and banker.
Born Oct. 22, 1896, in Buffalo, Wyo., Ackerman's family moved to Colorado Springs in a covered wagon when he was a young boy.
He served in World War I and was highly decorated as a Lieutenant Colonel during World War II for his distinguished service on European battlefields.
Ackerman started work as an elevator operator for Exchange National Bank in Colorado Springs around 1916 and worked his way up to majority owner, chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of the bank before leaving it 54 years later.
Ackerman also was the founder of Air Academy National Bank in Colorado Springs and served as its chairman, president, and chief executive officer before selling his controlling interest in the bank two years ago. He served as chairman emeritus of the bank until his death.
"He was very highly regarded as a rancher and one of the premier bankers of Colorado Springs," said Hal Littrell, president of Air Academy Bank.
Among those who knew him well, he also was known for his quiet philanthropic activities.
"He was heavily involved with charitable activities particularly those involving youth like the YMCA and Boy Scouts," Littrell said.
"He helped many children many minorities through college by paying their tuition," Littrell said. "He would find out a cleaning lady wanted her kids to go to college and he would give her the money.
He would not want the kids to know until they had finished their education."
Ackerman was also a major benefactor of the Cowboy Hall, financing several of its major pieces of art, said executive director Byron Price.
"He is more or less a legend at the hall," Price said.
Ackerman was quick to honor other people, but he didn't want other people to honor him, Littrell said.
"He certainly will be missed by all the people who knew him at the hall over these many years," Price said. "People would do well to follow his good example."
Published in the Oklahoman, 14 Jan 1988:
"Cowboy Hall Benefactor Dies In Colorado Springs at Age 91"
Jasper D. Ackerman, a founder and director-emeritus of Oklahoma City's National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, died Wednesday in Colorado Springs.
Ackerman, 91, was a prominent Colorado Springs rancher and banker.
Born Oct. 22, 1896, in Buffalo, Wyo., Ackerman's family moved to Colorado Springs in a covered wagon when he was a young boy.
He served in World War I and was highly decorated as a Lieutenant Colonel during World War II for his distinguished service on European battlefields.
Ackerman started work as an elevator operator for Exchange National Bank in Colorado Springs around 1916 and worked his way up to majority owner, chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of the bank before leaving it 54 years later.
Ackerman also was the founder of Air Academy National Bank in Colorado Springs and served as its chairman, president, and chief executive officer before selling his controlling interest in the bank two years ago. He served as chairman emeritus of the bank until his death.
"He was very highly regarded as a rancher and one of the premier bankers of Colorado Springs," said Hal Littrell, president of Air Academy Bank.
Among those who knew him well, he also was known for his quiet philanthropic activities.
"He was heavily involved with charitable activities particularly those involving youth like the YMCA and Boy Scouts," Littrell said.
"He helped many children many minorities through college by paying their tuition," Littrell said. "He would find out a cleaning lady wanted her kids to go to college and he would give her the money.
He would not want the kids to know until they had finished their education."
Ackerman was also a major benefactor of the Cowboy Hall, financing several of its major pieces of art, said executive director Byron Price.
"He is more or less a legend at the hall," Price said.
Ackerman was quick to honor other people, but he didn't want other people to honor him, Littrell said.
"He certainly will be missed by all the people who knew him at the hall over these many years," Price said. "People would do well to follow his good example."
"Cowboy Hall Benefactor Dies In Colorado Springs at Age 91"
Jasper D. Ackerman, a founder and director-emeritus of Oklahoma City's National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, died Wednesday in Colorado Springs.
Ackerman, 91, was a prominent Colorado Springs rancher and banker.
Born Oct. 22, 1896, in Buffalo, Wyo., Ackerman's family moved to Colorado Springs in a covered wagon when he was a young boy.
He served in World War I and was highly decorated as a Lieutenant Colonel during World War II for his distinguished service on European battlefields.
Ackerman started work as an elevator operator for Exchange National Bank in Colorado Springs around 1916 and worked his way up to majority owner, chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of the bank before leaving it 54 years later.
Ackerman also was the founder of Air Academy National Bank in Colorado Springs and served as its chairman, president, and chief executive officer before selling his controlling interest in the bank two years ago. He served as chairman emeritus of the bank until his death.
"He was very highly regarded as a rancher and one of the premier bankers of Colorado Springs," said Hal Littrell, president of Air Academy Bank.
Among those who knew him well, he also was known for his quiet philanthropic activities.
"He was heavily involved with charitable activities particularly those involving youth like the YMCA and Boy Scouts," Littrell said.
"He helped many children many minorities through college by paying their tuition," Littrell said. "He would find out a cleaning lady wanted her kids to go to college and he would give her the money.
He would not want the kids to know until they had finished their education."
Ackerman was also a major benefactor of the Cowboy Hall, financing several of its major pieces of art, said executive director Byron Price.
"He is more or less a legend at the hall," Price said.
Ackerman was quick to honor other people, but he didn't want other people to honor him, Littrell said.
"He certainly will be missed by all the people who knew him at the hall over these many years," Price said. "People would do well to follow his good example."
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