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| LOUIS T. BENEZET AWARD RECIPIENT
1992 |
Richard Skorman '75
It is a special occasion when more than 40 faculty members come together
to suggest one former student to receive such a high honor as a Benezet
Award. Their nomination of Richard Skorman is such an occasion. In the
group's recommendation letter, Professor Salvatore Bizzarro summed up
faculty feelings about Richard this way:
"When he was a student, Richard Skorman had a profound vocation for
literary and artistic investigation. His concerns covered a wide spectrum.
... He was open to dialogue in the classroom and outside of it, and attuned
to the richest orientation of critical thought. ... He was always eager
to work with other students, helping them if necessary, and to look at
reality from more than just one perspective.
"(Since graduation), Richard Skorman has made numerous contributions
to the College and the community, providing the necessary off-campus 'college
hangout' that made the business section of Newsweek magazine in 1982.
With his Poor Richard's Bookstore, Poor Richard's Cinema and now the Daily
Planet Options Store (an environmental products store), Richard Skorman
was successful in pinpointing what was missing in a college community
such as ours. When the Flick Theater closed down, it was Mr. Skorman who
immediately filled the gap by opening up his own theater to who the kind
of art films that we have learned to love. Through his efforts, and even
before a Colorado College Film Series was in existence, we were able to
view literally hundreds of independent, foreign and documentary films.
"Moreover, Richard Skorman became a founder and program director
of the internationally acclaimed U.S. Environmental Film Festival, working
with environmentalists from around the world and placing Colorado Springs
on the cinematic map. (That success was followed by an equally remarkable
one in Los Angeles the succeeding year.) He is executive director of the
Environmental Film Resource Center, the largest data base of environmental
film information in the world.
"When this city had two newspapers, Richard Skorman wrote movie reviews
for the Colorado Springs Sun. he also authored Off-Hollywood Movies:
A Film Lover's Guide (Random House Harmony Paperback; 1990). His
commitment to the environment is evidenced by his contributions to the
1992 Earth Journal Almanac.
"Richard Skorman has also given refuge to many homeless people
... volunteered at the Soup Kitchen ... and has been active in peace activities.
"For his dedication to his profession and more than 20 years devoted
to the Colorado Springs community, a sureness and refinement of intellectual
acumen, and a cordial and friendly nature, Richard Skorman has demonstrated
the ideals represented by the Louis T. Benezet Award."
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