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Emmett and DJ Zerr are original members of the 100
Club and were instrumental in getting the organization started. Emmett
holds claim to being a second generation native of Colorado. His
mother's family came from Sweden, and moved to Hollywood (Colorado) to
mine gold. His father, already a native, married this young Hollywood
girl, and soon Emmett claimed his place as a native. DJ 's great
grandparents (he was a Confederate veteran) homesteaded around
Burlington in 1887, though DJ arrived in a more circuitous way. She came
to Colorado as a teenager when her father was stationed at Lowry Air
Force Base. By the time she graduated from high school, she had attended
eleven schools--enough to make a young girl very self-sufficient.
Emmett is a Coast Guard Veteran. Joining in 1942, he served in the South
Pacific for two years. He sailed from New Guinea to the Philippines as a
sonar man on a Patrol Frigate doing submarine patrol--escorting ships
through various battles as America worked its way up the Islands. During
this tour of duty, he spent six weeks in Sydney, Australia attached to
the HMS Rushcutter and its sonar school. His patrol ended up with five
battle stars before returning to Boston. He described these years as a
great learning experience for a young man, and one way to get a good
tan. Upon returning to the U.S., he attended Denver University and the
University of Michigan, graduating with three degrees in Public Health.
In 1972 Emmett and DJ met through a mutual friend. Actually Emmett was
dating this friend, and she told each of them they would be perfect for
one another. Eventually she introduced them and proved her prediction
right! They combined their families—nine children, five of them
teenagers. They made it their goal to show the children that a happy
marriage was possible, a daunting challenge which they successfully met.
At the time they met, Emmett was working in Denver as the State Director
of Health planning, a position he held for nine years. Previously he had
been director of the Easter Seal Society. DJ had a successful beauty
shop in her home in Denver, and went to college at night.
Emmett continued his work in the health field and worked with area-wide
health planning councils in all areas of Colorado. He worked with
several different governors: Lamm, Love, and Glenwood's Johnny
Vanderhoof. Tired of the political life and Denver, Emmett opted out as
a division director and became a field representative for the Division
of Alcohol and Drug abuse in western Colorado. They moved to Glenwood in
1976. One of his accomplishments was the opening of the Alcohol Recovery
Center in Glenwood. He retired in 1988.
DJ continued to work in Glenwood, opening the "DJ Clipping Co." (a
unisex beauty-barber shop). After eight years, she decided to go with a
greater love, Yoga. She had practiced it for many years, and in 1985 she
became certified to teach it. For the next nine years she taught at CMC,
Sunnyside retirement center, a bank, and the hospital. For three years
she also operated the beauty shop at the retirement center.
It was difficult for DJ to retire, but she decided it was time for fun.
For recreation, they both enjoy skiing, hiking and 4-wheeling. They met
Tom and Olly Sherman in Glenwood Springs in 1977. It was while skiing at
Sunlight with Tom and Olly several years later that plans were
formulated to start the 100 Club. There were about 20 people involved at
that time--hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Emmett hurt his ankle mountain biking and this reduced his activity
somewhat. They still enjoy going to The Cabaret plays in Grand Junction
and DJ continues with yoga. Other activities have included a stint on
the Valley View hospital board for Emmett. He is also a board member
Emeritus of Colorado West Mental Health. He was a member of the Lions
Club for 25 years. DJ is a member of the Trade Winds Investment Club.
They now live in a lovely home in 100 Club West--otherwise known as
Battlement Mesa.
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