(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Richard Skorman, the owner of Poor Richard’s and a former Colorado Springs City Councilmember, will be honored by Mayor Yemi Mobolade with a lifetime achievement award on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

According to the City, Mayor Mobolade will present Skorman with the Mayor’s Spirit of Colorado Springs Lifetime Achievement Award during a State of the City event on Tuesday.

Skorman, 72, moved to Colorado in the 1970s to attend Colorado College. He began working at a downtown bookstore as a college senior, and eventually bought the business. He expanded it over the years, and Poor Richard’s has become a downtown landmark in Colorado Springs.

The Poor Richard’s complex now includes a gift shop, toy store, restaurant, and wine bar. The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum provides more background on this popular business here.

Over the past three decades, Skorman has volunteered for several committees and boards, and has held multiple elected positions. He served four terms as a Colorado Springs City Councilmember starting in 1999. During that time, he served as Vice Mayor and City Council President.

Skorman led the effort to get a ballot question passed in 1997 that dedicates 0.1% of local sales tax (one penny on a $10 purchase) to the protection and preservation of City trails, open spaces and parks. The Trails, Open Space and Parks program (TOPS) generates $12 million annually and supports conservation, wildlife habitat protection, maintenance, water quality, wildfire mitigation and more. In April 2023, Colorado Springs residents voted to extend the TOPS tax for 20 years.  

“Richard is a dedicated public servant, successful small business owner, author, environmentalist, community advocate, mentor and friend to so many,” said Mayor Mobolade. “It is my great joy to honor and award Richard for his incredible contributions to our great city.”