The Pikes Peak Range Riders announced the 2018 Silver Spur Award winner Sunday night, wrapping up the annual ride that started Wednesday with the Western Street Breakfast in downtown Colorado Springs.

The Range Riders have honored an “outstanding citizen of the community” every year since 1960, with T.G. Hibbard receiving the first nod. In recent years, Thayer Tutt, George Hess, John Suthers and Pam Shockley-Zalabak have received the award. This year the honor goes to Tom Watt.

The Texas native graduated from Oklahoma State University, majoring in animal husbandry. After college he settled in Rush with his family, eventually becoming the president of Brookhard Lumber in Colorado Springs until the company was sold in 1999. During that time, he expanded the company to 11 locations throughout the state.

Watt has also served on several boards in the Pikes Peak region, including Western National Bank, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, El Paso County Fair and the Pikes Peak Range Riders. He served as the president of the Colorado State Fair for four years.

Watt has a long history with the Range Riders, making his first ride in 1961.

In 1988, he planned and raised funds for the bronze statue commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Range Ride erected in downtown Colorado Springs.

Watt, along with two other Range Riders, purchased the Latigo Trails development just east of Black Forest. They then donated the land to the Range Rider Foundation, establishing the 45-acre Latigo Trails Equestrian Facility. The location provides horse boarding, therapy rides and riding facilities .

But Watt is not the only Range Rider in his family. His wife, Betty Brookhard Watt, is the daughter of Ken Brookhard, who, along with Everett Conover, founded the Pikes Peak Range Riders. Their sons, Mike and Rob, are also members of the Range Riders with both having served on the board.