ALAMOSA — The San Luis Valley lost a good friend and strong advocate this week when Lewis Entz passed away on Dec. 10 at the age of 94, and what he leaves behind is a legacy marked by a quarter of a century spent in tremendous and sustaining service to the people, the long-term well-being of agriculture in the Valley and Colorado, as a whole. 

His down-to-earth sense of humor was evident in describing his childhood in Hooper. “As a kid I minded the three Ps – pigs, peas and potatoes.  The pigs ate the field peas.  Those peas were a great green manure for the potatoes as well.” 

Entz packed a lot of living into those 94 years. Born to a farming family in the San Luis Valley, he continued with the family tradition and was a farmer with a successful operation in Hooper. He was also a pilot and aviator well known to those around the Center Airport, a former Marine, a veteran of the Korean War, an Alamosa County Commissioner, a representative to the Colorado House of Representatives, a state senator and a member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB).  

As a legislator, he carried 70 water bills and was the sponsoring legislator responsible for the bill that created Subdistrict One in the Rio Grande Water Conservation District – a subdistrict that was literally the first of its kind not just in the nation, but in the world, as evidenced by the number of calls RGWCD gets from people asking, “How did you guys get that created?” 

However, serving in office didn’t distract Entz from the farm. As he was quoted when he was awarded the President’s Award by the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, “I was at my legislative desk for roll call in the morning and back to the farm the same afternoon.  It helped that my son Mike was managing the farm.”  

“Lewis was my friend and a mentor,” Monte Vista City Manager Gigi Dennis told the Valley Courier. “We sponsored several pieces of legislation together and cared deeply about our constituents. We even held the annual ‘spud classic’ golf tournament at the Zapata Golf Course. Everyone took home potatoes! Those from the Front Range loved it.” 

In 1969, he was first elected as an Alamosa County Commissioner and served in that office until 1982 with over half of those 13 years as chairperson of the Board. In 1983, he transitioned to the state level where he was elected and re-elected for eight consecutive terms – 16 years – until leaving office in 1998.  

For the two years that followed, he was a member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, including as its chair in 2000, before returning to office and the Colorado General Assembly as a senator from 2001 to 2006, succeeding Gigi Dennis who moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

As reported by Colorado Politics, in 2007, then-U.S. Rep. John Salazar paid tribute to Entz in the U.S. House, on the occasion of an honorary degree awarded to Entz by Adams State College. The two served in the General Assembly, representing the same area, when Entz was in the Senate and Salazar in the House.  

“We worked together on small airports, agriculture, and water. During all my time dealing with him, I learned enough to heartily agree with the board of trustees of Adams State College in their assessment of his value to his community, region, and State. 

“Entz’s vast knowledge of Colorado’s complex water laws and the importance of water to the San Luis Valley was essential, and he worked tirelessly to protect water,” Salazar said. “No one served the people of the San Luis Valley more vigorously than Entz.” 

Entz was diagnosed with cancer almost a year ago and said he only had a year.  Senate and House Republicans offered their condolences Thursday. 

Minority Leader Cleave Simpson was quoted as saying in Colorado Politics, “Such an honorable public servant, I am so proud to have known him and work with him on important Valley issues. I work with folks at the Capitol today who still recall his legislative prowess and professionalism.” He also called Entz both a mentor and a “beacon for the San Luis Valley.” 

“Senator Entz spent his life serving the people of Colorado, and we are grateful for the many years he committed to our state,” said House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell. “We thank him for his service to Colorado and extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.” 

Lewis Entz was married twice in his life. He married Lora Jean Chambers in 1952, where, together, they had three daughters and a son. She died in September 2014. 

In 2020, he married Kathryn Bigley Entz, who survives him. 

Rogers Mortuary, who is handling the funeral arrangements, said Lewis Entz will be buried at the Monte Vista Community Methodist Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Visitation will be at Rogers Mortuary in Alamosa on Friday, Jan. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m.