Howard Richards Sr., former tribal chairman and commander for the Southern Ute Veterans Association sat before the State Senate at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Thursday, April 18, for the confirmation hearing for his appointment to the Colorado State Board of Veteran Affairs by Governor Jared Polis. Parker White, Legislative Liaison for the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs welcomed Richards in front of the State Board in the Capitol's Old Supreme Court Chamber. Richards is the first Native American to serve on the State Veteran’s Board in Colorado.

Howard Richards Sr. (center) stands with grandsons, Aeden Richards and Meonahan “Joe” Howell in the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Thursday, April 18, following the confirmation hearing for his recent appointment to the Colorado State Board of Veteran Affairs by Governor Jared Polis. Richards is an honorably discharged Vietnam veteran having served with the Ninth Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta from Jan. 1 – Aug. 16 of 1969.