Skip to main content

Boxing: Coffee, 1950-1976

 File
Identifier: B132.01.0001.0002

Abstract

Joe 'Awful' Coffee, born Joseph Rutkowski in Minsk, Russian Empire in 1905 was a major figure on the Denver sports scene. After boxing, as a featherweight, for ten years across the Rocky Mountain region, he retired and went to college at the University of Denver. After graduation, Joe worked for the May Company, and then opened up Joe 'Awful' Coffee's Ringside Lounge in 1943. Coffee's restaurant operated for some 23 years, closing in 1966, and attracting such notables as Jack Dempsey, President Dwight Eisenhower, and Joe Louis through its doors. Coffee died in 1982.

Dates

  • 1950-1976

Extent

From the File: 1 Items : letter document box

Scope and Contents

Folder contains press clippings; photographs; cd of oral history with Joe Coffee and an article from a publication called 'Colorado: The Superstar State'

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
2150 East Evans Avenue
Denver CO 80208
(303) 871-3428