Meet the Board
Arthur “Murph” Widdowfield, President
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Arthur S. Widdowfield – nicknamed "Murph" because his birthday is on St. Patrick's Day – was born in Chicago and moved to Denver at age 12. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1962, after which he began an apprenticeship as a boilermaker and welder. He also took courses in engineering, construction law, and construction management. Murph and a partner formed a company that became a Rocky Flats contractor dealing with the power plant, incinerators, and duct work.
Murph joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum board in 2010. He has been married to a wonderful woman for almost 50 years. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren.
Arthur S. Widdowfield – nicknamed "Murph" because his birthday is on St. Patrick's Day – was born in Chicago and moved to Denver at age 12. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1962, after which he began an apprenticeship as a boilermaker and welder. He also took courses in engineering, construction law, and construction management. Murph and a partner formed a company that became a Rocky Flats contractor dealing with the power plant, incinerators, and duct work.
Murph joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum board in 2010. He has been married to a wonderful woman for almost 50 years. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren.
Gene McCracken, Treasurer
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Gene is one of Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant’s pioneers, starting at the plant in June of 1967 as a Chemical Operator. He also worked in Radiation Monitoring after the May 1969 "Mother's Day" fire. In 1974, Gene was began the maintenance department apprenticeship program to become a pipe fitter. He later returned to radiation monitoring, becoming Radiation Monitoring Foreman, and later Radiation Monitoring Area Manager. He covered both Buildings 317 and 771 until he was assigned to initiate Radiation Monitoring compliance for the Department of Energy (DOE). From there he moved to Plant Training to train Radiation Monitoring and compliance until his first retirement in 1995. He returned for a second tour of duty in 1996 working with Cook Litigation. He retired again but was once more called back to assist with the Decommission and Demolition (D&D) of the plant.
Gene is one of Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant’s pioneers, starting at the plant in June of 1967 as a Chemical Operator. He also worked in Radiation Monitoring after the May 1969 "Mother's Day" fire. In 1974, Gene was began the maintenance department apprenticeship program to become a pipe fitter. He later returned to radiation monitoring, becoming Radiation Monitoring Foreman, and later Radiation Monitoring Area Manager. He covered both Buildings 317 and 771 until he was assigned to initiate Radiation Monitoring compliance for the Department of Energy (DOE). From there he moved to Plant Training to train Radiation Monitoring and compliance until his first retirement in 1995. He returned for a second tour of duty in 1996 working with Cook Litigation. He retired again but was once more called back to assist with the Decommission and Demolition (D&D) of the plant.
Susan M. Flack
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Susan has more than 23 years of professional experience in environmental exposure and risk analysis. Susan was a consultant to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for the Rocky Flats Health Studies Phase I, and later worked on baseline risk assessments for the Rocky Flats site as an employee of Woodward-Clyde Consultants. She served as the Rocky Flats Local Impacts Initiative representative to the Consortium for Environmental Risk Evaluation.
Susan holds advanced chemistry degrees from Case Western University and Cleveland State University. The Ohio native likes to ski, hike, and dance and volunteers for Project C.U.R.E., Denver Food Banks, Wildlands Restoration projects and the Colorado Mountain Club. She joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum Board of Directors in December 2009.
Susan has more than 23 years of professional experience in environmental exposure and risk analysis. Susan was a consultant to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for the Rocky Flats Health Studies Phase I, and later worked on baseline risk assessments for the Rocky Flats site as an employee of Woodward-Clyde Consultants. She served as the Rocky Flats Local Impacts Initiative representative to the Consortium for Environmental Risk Evaluation.
Susan holds advanced chemistry degrees from Case Western University and Cleveland State University. The Ohio native likes to ski, hike, and dance and volunteers for Project C.U.R.E., Denver Food Banks, Wildlands Restoration projects and the Colorado Mountain Club. She joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum Board of Directors in December 2009.
Ken Freiberg
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Ken started working for Dow Chemical at Rocky Flats in July, 1953. His first 23 years were spent in health physics. In 1957, he worked on decontamination and new modifications for fire, utility and safety systems. He worked on the fabrication facility and with Rockwell on the plutonium recovery/waste treatment facility. Ken then managed Plant Services and then spent three years as program manager. From Facilities Project Management, he moved on to Plant Support Operations and Maintenance Services. He left in January 1991 and became an engineering services consultant for Rocky Flats.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he spent four years in the U.S. Army-Air Force and then 34 years in the Colorado National Guard. He was a volunteer fire chief for the City of Thornton from 1954-1982. Ken joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum Board in June 2009. Ken and his wife live near Berthoud and have traveled the world. He continues to enjoy fishing, boating, flying and travel.
Ken started working for Dow Chemical at Rocky Flats in July, 1953. His first 23 years were spent in health physics. In 1957, he worked on decontamination and new modifications for fire, utility and safety systems. He worked on the fabrication facility and with Rockwell on the plutonium recovery/waste treatment facility. Ken then managed Plant Services and then spent three years as program manager. From Facilities Project Management, he moved on to Plant Support Operations and Maintenance Services. He left in January 1991 and became an engineering services consultant for Rocky Flats.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he spent four years in the U.S. Army-Air Force and then 34 years in the Colorado National Guard. He was a volunteer fire chief for the City of Thornton from 1954-1982. Ken joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum Board in June 2009. Ken and his wife live near Berthoud and have traveled the world. He continues to enjoy fishing, boating, flying and travel.
Phil Saba
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Phil Saba is a native-born Coloradan and long-time Rocky Flats worker. He is active with the Rocky Flats Homesteaders, a large group of Rocky Flats retirees. Phil grew up in Denver and attended East High School. He worked in a Denver machine shop before being hired at Rocky Flats as a machinist in 1957. He later moved into research and development, then into remote engineering. He entered his first retirement in 1989 leaving Rocky Flats as a Master Technical Engineer. His next career found him working as a sub-contractor, and then as an engineer designing a prototype machine for coring waste drums to determine their contents. His final job assignment was for the Department of Labor. Phil entered his final retirement in 2007.
Phil now enjoys his spouse, kids, grandkids, Chevy Camaros, and Corvettes. He has come out of retirement once more to help with the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum.
Phil Saba is a native-born Coloradan and long-time Rocky Flats worker. He is active with the Rocky Flats Homesteaders, a large group of Rocky Flats retirees. Phil grew up in Denver and attended East High School. He worked in a Denver machine shop before being hired at Rocky Flats as a machinist in 1957. He later moved into research and development, then into remote engineering. He entered his first retirement in 1989 leaving Rocky Flats as a Master Technical Engineer. His next career found him working as a sub-contractor, and then as an engineer designing a prototype machine for coring waste drums to determine their contents. His final job assignment was for the Department of Labor. Phil entered his final retirement in 2007.
Phil now enjoys his spouse, kids, grandkids, Chevy Camaros, and Corvettes. He has come out of retirement once more to help with the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum.
Jack Weaver
Jack has over 41 years of experience at the plant in all levels of management and responsibilities. He was born on a farm north of Longmont, Colorado. He graduated from Berthoud High School in 1959, and farmed with his Dad until he began his career at the Rocky Flats in 1961. He started at Rocky Flats as a laborer, but soon became an hourly Chemical Operator. He then moved on to become a Foreman and Operations/Building Manager. He ultimately became the Deputy Assistant General Manager of Plutonium Operations.
Jack retired on September 30, 1996 but as has been said – you couldn’t keep him down on the farm. Jack went back to work on October 1, 1996 as a consultant on the Decommissioning and Demolition Project until his final retirement in June, 2002. Jack is quoted extensively in Making a Real Killing: Rocky Flats and the Nuclear West by Len Ackland, and provides an inside look at all things production at the Rocky Flats Plant.
Jack has over 41 years of experience at the plant in all levels of management and responsibilities. He was born on a farm north of Longmont, Colorado. He graduated from Berthoud High School in 1959, and farmed with his Dad until he began his career at the Rocky Flats in 1961. He started at Rocky Flats as a laborer, but soon became an hourly Chemical Operator. He then moved on to become a Foreman and Operations/Building Manager. He ultimately became the Deputy Assistant General Manager of Plutonium Operations.
Jack retired on September 30, 1996 but as has been said – you couldn’t keep him down on the farm. Jack went back to work on October 1, 1996 as a consultant on the Decommissioning and Demolition Project until his final retirement in June, 2002. Jack is quoted extensively in Making a Real Killing: Rocky Flats and the Nuclear West by Len Ackland, and provides an inside look at all things production at the Rocky Flats Plant.
Robert M. West, PhD
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Robert “Mac” West is the principal of Informal Learning Experiences, Inc., a Denver-based firm founded in 1992. Mac’s background is in science (PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Chicago). He has published more than 200 papers and abstracts on paleontology, museum science, and science education. He participated in Chamber of Commerce community leadership programs in Pittsburgh and Detroit. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Systematics Collections, the Visitor Studies Association, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers, and was Vice President of the Association of Science Museum Directors. He served as the U.S. natural history museum representative on the Indo-U.S. Subcommission on Education and Culture.
Mac recently joined the board of the Rocky Flats Museum. He presents regularly at conferences such as the Science Center World Congress, ECSITE, ASPAC, AAM, ASTC, and IAAPA. He recently was designated a Fulbright Specialist and assisted the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka in planning for the establishment of that nation's first science center.
Robert “Mac” West is the principal of Informal Learning Experiences, Inc., a Denver-based firm founded in 1992. Mac’s background is in science (PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Chicago). He has published more than 200 papers and abstracts on paleontology, museum science, and science education. He participated in Chamber of Commerce community leadership programs in Pittsburgh and Detroit. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Systematics Collections, the Visitor Studies Association, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers, and was Vice President of the Association of Science Museum Directors. He served as the U.S. natural history museum representative on the Indo-U.S. Subcommission on Education and Culture.
Mac recently joined the board of the Rocky Flats Museum. He presents regularly at conferences such as the Science Center World Congress, ECSITE, ASPAC, AAM, ASTC, and IAAPA. He recently was designated a Fulbright Specialist and assisted the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka in planning for the establishment of that nation's first science center.
Cynthia Winslow
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Cynthia joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum in 2015 with a very special insight from her work at Professional Case Management in Denver. She related her personal interest in the Rocky Flats workers – the Cold War Patriots – with having a Korean War vet Dad. She feels the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum is critical to keep these Patriots stories alive and remembered in the history of this great nation.
Cynthia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an advanced degree as a Dotor of Natural Health (NH.,D). In her widely varied carrier, she has been a corporate recruiter, a commercial real estate broker, an underground construction marketing executive, a wellness consultant, and an herbalist and homeopathic specialist. Her interests and certifications include a Stephen’s Minister, a crisis line counselor, a Catholic endow leader, and a yoga instructor. On top of all that, Cynthia is a wife of 23 years and a mother of two teenagers and a rescue dog named Fenway.
Cynthia joined the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum in 2015 with a very special insight from her work at Professional Case Management in Denver. She related her personal interest in the Rocky Flats workers – the Cold War Patriots – with having a Korean War vet Dad. She feels the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum is critical to keep these Patriots stories alive and remembered in the history of this great nation.
Cynthia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an advanced degree as a Dotor of Natural Health (NH.,D). In her widely varied carrier, she has been a corporate recruiter, a commercial real estate broker, an underground construction marketing executive, a wellness consultant, and an herbalist and homeopathic specialist. Her interests and certifications include a Stephen’s Minister, a crisis line counselor, a Catholic endow leader, and a yoga instructor. On top of all that, Cynthia is a wife of 23 years and a mother of two teenagers and a rescue dog named Fenway.
What has the Board accomplished so far?
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Planning Grant & Feasibility Study
Early on, the board secured a planning grant from Kaiser-Hill, some of which was used for a feasibility study in 2003, which concluded that a museum would be economically viable. Outreach The museum has a speaker’s bureau, a revised website, Facebook page and an online newsletter, Weapons to Wildlife. Board members are delegates to the Rocky Flats Stewardship Council. Volunteers have staffed a booth at Denver’s Capitol Hill People’s Fair and have participated in other community events in Arvada and Denver. Various news media have covered the museum’s activities. Oral Histories A State Historic Fund grant was obtained in 2004 for videotaping and transcribing 90+ oral histories of former workers, activists, regulators and community and political leaders to discuss the historic buildings and activities. The collection now has more than150 oral histories, transcribed and online on the website of the Boulder Library (Maria Rogers Oral History Program at the Carnegie Library). See the website: www.boulderlibrary.org/oralhistory. Congressional Appropriation In late 2007, U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard helped the museum secure a $492,000 federal appropriation. The funds were allocated over the next five years, which enabled the board to lease a facility and hire staff to work on developing the museum. Artifacts Storage Volunteers moved the many artifacts collected (and stored outdoors in metal contain-ers), into an Arvada warehouse in 2009, and volunteers worked with a museum consultant to develop a database describing each item in the collection. Exhibit Design The board contracted with Exhibit Design Associates of Estes Park in Oct. 2011 to develop exhibits after meetings with key stakeholders. Plans for a permanent exhibit have been put on hold, due to lack of funding and lack of a permanent location. Community Support Area cities and counties have passed resolutions of support for the museum. Fundraising Volunteers have been meeting with political, community and corporate leaders to seek support for the museum. A fundraising video, case statement and business plan were prepared. |
The best thing about working there were the people — some of the most amazing, exciting people that I ever worked with.
Herb Bowman, Former General Manager of Rocky Flats
