Join Alan Nelson鈥檚 retirement celebration in UMC 235 on Monday, Dec. 16, from 1 鈥� 3 p.m.
In the heart of any community, you will find individuals willing to share their time, talent and passion to make the community a better place. One of those individuals has spent the better part of the last three decades creating and sharing CU-Boulder鈥檚 sense of place, and he鈥檚 retiring this December.
Alan Nelson, grounds specialist in Facilities Management, came on board as a grounds supervisor in 1986. Over the years, he has helped to shape the physical environment that routinely finds CU-Boulder in top-ten lists for most beautiful campuses.
As he looks back over his 27 years on campus, he considers the legacy of his work the landscape and especially the trees he is leaving behind. When asked to consider his favorite tree on the campus, he can鈥檛 come up with just one.
鈥淚 always think of the amazing Cottonwood that is on the south side of Old Main, which was most likely planted in 1879. It鈥檚 amazing it is still here, as cottonwoods are generally short-lived trees,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here is also a large red oak at the west end of Norlin Quad that is dear to me. This is one of the first donation trees that I worked on, and I planted it with CU鈥檚 President Gordon Gee in 1988. It鈥檚 now about 65 feet tall.鈥�
鈥淭he Norlin Quad itself is outstanding,鈥� said Nelson. 鈥淭here are a number of original trees there. Someone doing research a couple of years ago found and sent me a copy of an invoice for 42 cottonwood seedlings for 52 dollars, dated 1879.鈥�
The tree legacy he has helped create and maintain includes many donated and memorial trees; living monuments to faculty, staff, students and alumni of the university. You can read more about his work with the memorial and markers program in the article 鈥�.鈥�
His passion for the maintenance and history of the campus鈥� trees led to his nickname, the 鈥渢ree man.鈥� (鈥� 鈥�) If you鈥檝e taken one of his famous tree walks, you鈥檝e heard stories about the microclimates on the campus which allow more exotic species to thrive, and the infamous tree trains which came from back east and brought saplings which have now matured into beautiful specimens across the campus.
His passion for trees has even extended to volunteering with fourth graders from Flatirons Elementary, who do a science unit related to trees for six weeks, and then come to campus for an identification, history and story-telling session with Nelson.
If Nelson鈥檚 contribution to the CU community was solely as the 鈥渢ree man,鈥� his legacy would be secure. But that鈥檚 not enough for a man who is passionate about the life and purpose of a living, breathing university campus. For many years, he participated in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival as a volunteer actor.
鈥淕etting to work with the talented people at CSF is awesome,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd a full house in the Mary Rippon theatre on a beautiful summer evening can鈥檛 be beat.鈥�
His talents and dedication also extend to helping shape major events on the campus that may affect the university鈥檚 landscape. He reviews events scheduled for lawns, quads and other outdoor spaces, to make sure they respect the landscaped environment. This involvement also extends to his role coordinating the commencement processions for the winter and spring ceremonies. While he misses the quiet and intimate summer ceremony, which used to be held on Norlin Quad, he feels the happiest day of the year is the energy and emotion vested in the spring ceremony.
鈥淟eading the procession from the Quad and to the Stadium is a great feeling. It is a signature moment for the campus, our students and the student鈥檚 families. I love it,鈥� Nelson said.
As he prepares to retire, he has of course begun to reflect back on some of his favorite memories from his time on the campus. The energy and excitement of the CSF and commencement rank high, as does a recent invitation to be an honorary coach for Women鈥檚 Basketball in November of this year. However he closes with a favorite moment, which he has in fact helped create.
鈥淎ny quiet morning on Norlin Quad, as you look east towards Norlin Library, will rank high in my fond memories for this campus, 鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is a beautiful way to begin the day.鈥�
Join Alan Nelson鈥檚 colleagues and friends for his retirement sendoff on Monday, Dec. 16, in UMC 235, from 1 鈥� 3 p.m.听