Rita Laverne McNichols
Wife of Honorable William H. McNichols, Jr., the fortieth Mayor of Denver. First Lady of Denver from 1968-1982.
Her Story
Personal
Mrs. McNichols was born on January 17, 1915, and died in Denver, Colorado on September 11, 1982. She peacefully resides at Mount Olivet Cemetary in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
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Family
Mayor and Mrs. McNichols were married on October 24, 1947, and had one son. They lived at 734 Krameria Street. Unfortunately, Rita passed away while Mayor McNichols was still in office.
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Of Note
Mrs. McNichols was an avid supporter of children’s services and also was known as a promoter of Denver outdoor park spaces. In 1999, the city's old Carnegie Library building in Civic Center Park was renamed the McNichols Civic Center Building in honor of the family. Mayor McNichols and Mrs. McNichols were Denver’s second-longest-serving Mayor and First Lady. During these years, there was a clear focus on improving Denver’s water supply, building parks, swimming pools, and recreation centers, and expanding the Denver Art Museum and Mile High Stadium.
