Two Springs men win state fatherhood awards

Two Colorado Springs men were selected as winners of three Father’s Day-related awards given by programs within the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Kevin Crumley, a father to four, was named the “2010 Be There for Your Kids Father of the Year” by the Colorado Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Initiative. Three years ago, Crumley was 39 years old and had begun thinking his chance at fatherhood was over when he met his wife, Denise, who had three children from a previous marriage.

Her first husband was killed in 2005 while serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces Unit. Crumley is raising the three as his own while honoring their father’s memory by helping them through his death, by never asking them to call him “Dad” and by keeping photographs of their dad around the home.

“At first, I was just shocked, almost embarrassed, because I thought, ‘Wow, you know, really, of all the people they could pick?’” Crumley said of the award. “I guess you have to realize that when you do good things, you reap good things. I never necessarily thought of myself as being ‘Superdad’ so much as doing what I was called to do.”

Ken Sanders, director of the El Paso County Department of Human Services’ Center on Fathering, was recognized as the “2010 Be There For Your Kids Outstanding Fatherhood Practitioner of the Year” by the Colorado Fatherhood Council. Sanders also was awarded the “Excellence in Practice Award” by the Colorado Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division.

The Center on Fathering provides services including classes, training and support to fathers in El Paso County.

“I was surprised when I heard about the first one, then the second one came along,” Sanders said. “To say it was an honor is an understatement.

The two men were recognized Friday at the Colorado Rockies game.