One of the nicest guys around was just back in the Kingdom of Breckenridge to attend a good friend’s daughter’s wedding. You wouldn’t know until you’re able to spend some time with “Cabo” Terry Stanford, but he was a Golden Gloves boxer and on his 18th birthday, he won a light heavyweight title at 176 pounds.

Terry was just back in Breckenridge from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for the marriage of Denverites Durban Swartz to Logan Ripley.

Durban is the daughter of real estate broker and distance runner John Swartz Jr., and wife Patti.

Terry was involved in Breckenridge real estate market between 1977, when he visited frequently from Dallas, until 1994.

“I was a season ski passholder many of those years and learned the adage about a person who comes to Ski Country for the winter and stays for the summer,” Terry acknowledges.

Over the years he owned the Health Club on French Street, “Tarn House” on the lake in Spruce Valley Ranch, and a two-home corporate compound south of The Tarn, called the “Breckenridge House,” which featured an indoor/outdoor swimming pool.

Terry also owned both sides of a duplex on Warrior’s Mark, another half-dozen condos and some vacant lots.

“Investing in real estate in Breckenridge was a lot of fun — in part because I never had a losing deal,” he says.

Terry’s still in the real estate business: wife Cindy is a Realtor down on the south end tip of the Baja California, where they live way up in the gated Pedregal full time, with views of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.

“Over the years I’ve enjoyed meeting a number of interesting people, along with some outright characters,” he says. “Today, it is great to see the development of Frisco into both a summer and winter destination.”

“My buddies up here include John Swartz, Tom Trahey, Rob Philippe and Tim Cardamon,” he readily admits.

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In some other Breck social news we learned of the passing of Kate McQuown Howell down in Santa Fe. Kate, who died Dec. 31, was the wife of well-known Southwest painter, sculptor and poet Frank Howell and mother of Frank Howell Jr. Frank Sr., a featured artist at the Copper West Fest, died in 1997. Early on Kate was the administrative assistant to Nick Marsch, who developed The Village at Breckenridge with its signature bell tower.

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Spotted out and about were these folks:

Maggie “Arrow” Lifland, Verna and George Enyeart, Ann and Frank Amoroso, those Helper, Utah oil painters David Johnsen and Thomas ”Elmo” Williams; Tim “The Woodman” Lockwood, Judy and Randy Hoch of Salida, Randy and Mary Blunt of Blackhawk, Rick and Linda Bachman of Aurora, abstract mixed media painter Pam Spika of Parker, Bonita Springs, Fla. photographer Dick Cunningham and daughter Tina; retired ski patroller Nick Payne, Drew Beling, Steve Siehr of Wisconsin, Debb Cusick, Randy White, Jodie Willey, Karin Bearnarth, Jenni “Breck Cruisers” Stephens, Walter Caamano, Jeanette Gongleoff, Nancy Macy, photorapher Bette Levine of Breckenridge and Palm Springs, Calif.; Walter Caamano; and Peter “Piano Boss” and painter Susan Simon of Evergreen.

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Spike! enjoyed the 16th annual Colorado Cajun Crustacean Consumption Carnival gathering hosted by Friscoites Pat and Dale Butler and Randy Mott and Jan Butler, and became re-acquainted with twins Christopher and Jessica Duffield.

Miles F. Porter IV, nicknamed “Spike,” a Coloradan since 1949, is an Army veteran, former Climax miner, graduate of Adams State College, and a local since 1982. An award-winning investigative reporter, he and wife Mary E. Staby owned newspapers here for 20 years. Email your social info to milesfporteriv@aol.com