Lester (Bus) Gardenswartz, 1977

Lester (Bus) Gardenswartz (1906-1981 SSI) was born to Morris and Mary Gardenswartz in Denver, Colorado. The family moved to Durango in 1921, where his father bought a hardware store. Bus graduated from Durango High School in 1924, then returned to Denver to attend the University of Denver. However, he soon dropped out to work for his uncle's pawn shop, called Solomon Loan Company. In 1927, Bus married Hazel Edelstein, and the couple settled in Durango where they opened a sporting goods store. They had three children, Jerry, Stanley, and Judy. Bus sold Gardenswartz Sporting Goods Store in 1956, but remained in Durango for the rest of his life.