Sopris deserves better

Dear Editor:

There seems to be much ado over naming one of Sopris’ peaks after “another dead white guy.” This description of Sopris is only two-thirds correct. Sopris the person is indeed dead, and was white, but was a woman.

Most people probably don’t know what Emma Sopris did that warranted having a town and our most majestic mountain named after her. She earned this great honor by being the valley’s first schoolteacher. Our forefathers apparently placed such a high value on having education for their children that they held the teachers in the highest of esteem.

I have to agree with what appears to be the majority in that naming the peak after another rich or powerful or famous person seems shortsighted. Maybe the people of the Roaring Fork Valley should do something a little more radical and name the two peaks on Sopris after two outstanding teachers, past or present, who have had great impacts on the students from Glenwood to Aspen. Imagine that, giving tribute to those who have given everyone of us so much.

Nancy Humphreys

Hagerstown, Md.