Hank Brown, a former resident of Greeley who served in Congress and is a past president of the University of Northern Colorado, has been named the 2008 Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show.

Brown, who will join Greeley/Weld County natives Kenny Monfort, W.D. Farr and Ben Houston as recipients of the prestigious award, will be honored by the National Western Jan. 16 at an Adam's Mark Hotel dinner.

The Citizen of the West, selected by a committee of community leaders, is an annual award given to a person who embodies the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer and is committed to perpetuating those Western ethics.

Jean Hoshiko of Kersey has been a friend of the Brown family since they came to Greeley in 1969. She, her late husband, Paul, and their family worked on campaigns for Brown.

"I don't think they could have picked a better person, although Hank wouldn't ever say that," Hoshiko said.

Brown and his family came to Greeley in 1969 and he went work for Monfort of Colorado as a vice president, a position he held until 1980. He served in the Colorado Senate from 1972-76, then became Colorado's 4th District representative in Congress in 1980 before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1990.

After two terms as Senator, he served as president of UNC from 1998-2002, then moved to Denver to become president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, a billion-dollar foundation. In early 2005, he became interim president of CU and a short time later was named the 21st president of the university.

Wayne Hutchens is the president of the CU Foundation and was delighted with the selection into what he called the "fellowship of effective leaders who have had a major impact on the quality of life" in the region.

"His rare blend of experiences of corporate and public life have provided him with an uncommon perspective on what's important to balance and maintain the priorities that are unique to the American West," Hutchens said.

Pat Grant, president and CEO of the National Western, said Brown typifies the award.

"If you were able to boil down and distill the values and ethics of our Western heritage, you'd get Hank Brown. He sets the citizenship standard, not only for Westerners, but for all Americans. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to honor this great American in 2008," Grant said.

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The Citizen of the West dinner will be Jan. 16 at the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Denver. For information, call Andrea Miller, scholarship coordinator for the National Western, at (303)299-5560.