Dave Gibson, Longmont. The mass shooting on March 22, 2021, at King Soopers in Boulder, Colorado, struck closer to home than others in what seems to be an endless string of senseless tragedies witnessed on our television screens. For Officer Eric Talley, Denny Strong, Neven Stanisie, Rikki Olds, Tralona Bartkowski, Suzanne Fountain, Teri Leiker, Kevin Mahoney, Lynn Murray, and Jody Waters, it cost them their lives. Tremendous sadness and a void that can never be filled remain for the spouses, children, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends left behind.

A sense of hopelessness and despair stemming from the injustice has affected many of us. Though it will never bring their loved ones back, donating to the victims’ families is a means we can use to assist.

In a gesture of kindness, on May 1, 2021, Boulder business entrepreneur Stephen Tebo of Tebo Properties opened his personal vehicle collection for viewing. Known by a privileged few as “Tebo’s Garage,” donations starting at $25 per person went directly to the families through the Boulder County Crisis Fund and Colorado Healing Fund. Tebo relayed, “Our hearts go out to our entire community, but especially to the families of the victims. We’re honored to open this collection to the public for the first time in order to assist these families.” At least $20,000 was raised at the event.

Stephen Tebo’s love affair with the automobile began long before he purchased the first car of his collection in 1975. From there, it has grown to include over 400 meticulously restored autos, trucks, and motorcycles. Two full-time mechanics keep the vehicles in running condition, taking them for a spin every three months as weather allows.

Rather than focusing on one specific category of vehicles, his tastes are varied ranging from early Ford Model Ts to monster trucks. A 1935 Duesenberg with raked windshield, 1929 Pierce Arrow, and a racy pastel green and black 1931 Ford Roadster 40B are among the displayed treasures. Rooms radiate from the massive main hall devoted to Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes, Mustangs, Thunderbirds, Cadillacs, race cars, custom hot rods, antique fire engines, and MGs. A bright red 1936 MG PA Roadster Convertible sits low to the road and looks like it would be fun to drive. Buicks, Chryslers, Chevrolets, AMCs, Hudsons, and cars you’ve never heard of pack the showroom floor. Finely buffed and gleaming under the lights, even an Edsel looks sexy.

The irony wasn’t lost when young Tucker Hansen was seated behind the wheel of a rare Tucker 48 “Torpedo” by Stephen Tebo himself. While there are merely 47 Tuckers remaining in the world, there is only one Tucker Hansen of Commerce City.

Some of the impressive amalgam has connections to celebrities. A silver DeLorean takes us Back to the Future and reminds us of illicit drug dealings. Rat Pack member Frank Sinatra’s Army Jeep that he used at his Las Vegas Ranch sat cordoned off next to the entryway. A 1941 Indian Military Chief motorcycle owned by Steve McQueen is similar to the one he rode in the film The Great Escape. The sleek styling of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ pearl white 1957 Jaguar Mark 1 screams sophistication. Both she and JFK drove the car when staying at Merrywood estate in Virginia. Parked is a custom-built Rolls Royce that belonged to John Lennon and is signed by him on the door panel. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, equipped with flamethrower, the Batmobile Cruiser that appeared in the 1989 Batman movie rests facing out from the corner poised to strike against the forces of evil.

To show your support through a contribution to the families of the King Soopers tragedy, go to www.commfound.org/crisisfund or call Lynda Ricketson, Vice President of Philanthropic Services, at 720-667-3557.  

(Originally published in the May 6, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)