Interesting tidbits can be picked up in networking mode at MUFSO, such as word of an Oct. 19 ceremony at the University of Denver, which is renaming its Daniels College of Business School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management.
 
The new name is Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management and the change is being made in memory of Denver foodservice distribution success Ferdinand “Fritz” Knoebel. His widow Betty earlier this year donated $17.5 million to the university – one of the largest gifts in the school’s history, according to DU’s’s blog site – and officials say the money will be used to establish the Knoebel Center for the Study of Aging and to support the hotel, restaurant and tourism management program.
 
Knoebel started the bakery distribution company that later would become known as Nobel Inc. in 1929 and grew and nurtured it until its acquisition by Sysco in 1982. He served as chairman of Nobel/Sysco Food Services Co. until he retired in 1999 at 90. He died in 2005.
 
Word of that ceremony came from Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation and Metro State College Foundation trustee and former Colorado Restaurant Association chairman Robert “Robbie” Hahn. Hahn, who in the past operated Quiznos and Brothers Coffee stores and a Cowboy Internet Bar, now is the technology business with Mocapay, but continues to promote – officially and unofficially – many things dealing with Colorado and the hospitality industry. It's second nature to him by now, as he formerly served on the boards of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, Colorado Tourism Board and Colorado Wine Industry Development Board.
 
-- Alan J. Liddle