ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Saunders Construction, Inc. announces with heavy hearts the passing of its founder, Richard “Dick” Saunders, 85, on Nov. 21.
Few individuals have shaped Colorado’s built environment as profoundly as Saunders, the visionary founder of Saunders Construction. His legacy continues to influence how buildings are delivered, how teams collaborate and how the company gives back to local communities.
Saunders’ construction career began long before he founded Saunders Construction in 1972. After graduating from the University of Denver in the early 1960s, he entered a rapidly evolving industry with an entrepreneurial mindset, a gift for problem-solving and a belief that construction is ultimately about people.
What began as a one-person operation in the basement of his Englewood home quickly grew into one of Colorado’s most respected construction companies. Saunders built the company on four core values he lived every day: care, collaboration, commitment, and community. Those values remain the foundation of Saunders Construction today.
Under his leadership, the firm steadily expanded its portfolio to include many of the Rocky Mountain region’s most recognizable landmarks. When he stepped down as CEO in 2001, Saunders did so with intention. HIs belief in the power of employee ownership also shaped the company’s future. Today, Saunders Construction is a 100 percent employee-owned organization.
Saunders’ impact extended far beyond construction. A tireless advocate for education, youth development and mental health, he helped launch Colorado Uplift and served on more than a dozen nonprofit boards including ACE Scholarships, the Institute for Children’s Mental Disorders and Mental Health America of Colorado. His service earned him major humanitarian awards from Volunteers of America, the University of Denver, the Samaritan Institute and the Kempe Children’s Foundation.