Ralph E. “Ed” Eberhart named 2024 Citizen of The West
Ralph E. “Ed” Eberhart of Colorado Springs, a retired four-star general from the U.S. Air Force, has been named this year’s Citizen of the West at the National Western Stock Show.
The honor is a first for the sponsoring Roundup Riders of the Rockies, who have given the coveted award to ranchers, politicians and business leaders since the award began in 1978.
That year the group chose legendary newspaper columnist Robert W. “Red” Fenwick.
Eberhart was tapped President George W. Bush to command the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Under Eberhart’s guidance, both NORAD and NorthCom implemented numerous measures to enhance homeland defense and protect against future threats.
“He kept a bad situation from becoming worse,” said 2011 Citizen of the West Pete Coors, who also is a member of the National Western Stock Show board of directors and chairman of the show’s $150 million Honoring the Legacy Campaign.
“General, we are proud to recognize your service,” said Gov. Jared Polis at the Monday dinner where 1,400 friends, family members and former award recipients gathered at the National Western Events Center to honor Eberhart while raising significant funds for the National Western Scholarship Trust.
“You embody the Western values we hold dear, and we are so proud to call you a Coloradan.”
Maj. Gen. Andy Love, whose parents, former Colorado Gov. John Love and Ann Love, were Citizens of the West in 1989, was the dinner’s master of ceremonies.
He recalled meeting Eberhart at what is now Peterson Space Force Base and being in awe of Eberhart’s Air Force career, which includes more than 5,000 flight hours and completing 300 combat missions in Southeast Asia.
“He has lived all over the world, but always lived by the code of the West, no matter where he was at,” Love said. “He was a thoughtful, commanding leader during one of the most critical periods our country has experienced. His love of our country is undeniable.”
“While he may not have been born in Colorado, he got here as fast as he could,” added Paul Andrews, president/CEO of the National Western Stock Show. To which Eberhart responded: “The West is a great place to serve. Our military loves being stationed in Colorado and Wyoming, not just because of the weather or the scenery but because of how they are treated.”
After accepting the gifts that commemorate the award — a Tom Mowrey Enterprises branding iron and custom cowboy hat from Hamblen Hats — Eberhart shared that up until he was about 10 years old, he was convinced he was going to be a cowboy.
“Well, that didn’t work out, so I turned to the military,” Eberhart said.
Looking back on his career, particularly the dangerous missions that he flew, the richly decorated (Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters) Eberhart said: “When you’re 22, you think you’re bulletproof. But now, when I think back, it scares me half to death.”
Eberhart, who was accompanied to the dinner by his wife, Karen, and daughters Erika and Jessica, said he credits much of his leadership style to quotes by cowboy-philosopher Will Rogers, especially this one:
“If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.”
Retired Gen. Ralph E. “Ed” Eberhart is the National Western Stock Show’s pick for the 2024 Citizen of the West. He is a former commander of the U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command.