In January 2025, Roger Kinney, a longtime Denver sports executive, businessman, and member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, made a phone call that would set something meaningful in motion.
Kinney had an idea. For decades, the Denver Post's Gold Helmet Award had stood as the premier recognition for the top high school senior football player in Colorado. Kinney believed baseball deserved something similar: an annual award presented to the top senior high school baseball player in the state, evaluated on three essential criteria: academic performance, athletic achievement, and contributions to the community.
He called Ed Henderson, and the two agreed it was worth pursuing.
On March 19, 2025, Kinney and Henderson sat down with Matt Schubert and Kyle Newman of the Denver Post to flesh out the concept, reviewing the award structure, timeline, and logistics. It was at that meeting that Henderson proposed naming the award after Arvada West High School's most celebrated alumnus: Baseball Hall of Famer Roy Halladay. The suggestion was met with immediate agreement, and the Roy Halladay Award was officially born.
Alan Bossart was also brought into the group at that time to help lead operations and coordinate the award process.
With a name and a mission established, the group moved quickly. Roger Kinney opened conversations with Mark Lundeen of Lundeen Sculptures in Loveland, Colorado, a gallery with an international reputation for extraordinary bronze work, and secured "Mighty Casey," a beautiful bronze sculpture, as the award's permanent trophy.
In April 2025, the organization was formally incorporated as the Colorado High School Baseball Player Award Corporation, with a board of directors assembled to guide the effort forward:
Ed Henderson, Chairman, Communications and Fundraising
Kyle Newman, Media Support, Candidate Nominations and Fundraising
Alan Bossart, Treasurer, Operations and Fundraising
Justin North, Legal Counsel, Secretary, and Administrator for all IRS and State Filings
Justin North moved swiftly to file the necessary paperwork with both the IRS and the State of Colorado in pursuit of 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Throughout May and into early June 2025, coaches from across Colorado submitted nominations of outstanding senior baseball players for consideration. A Selection Committee was formed to rigorously evaluate each nominee against the award's criteria, and the nomination period officially closed on June 7th.
On June 13th, the Selection Committee convened and reached a consensus: the inaugural Roy Halladay Award would be presented to Wyatt Rudden, a senior at Cherry Creek High School.
On the afternoon of June 27, 2025, Wyatt Rudden was honored at an award banquet at the Denver Chop House. The room that afternoon included members of the Halladay family, Roger Kinney, Wyatt and his family, sponsors and donors, former high school teammates of Roy Halladay, coaches, media representatives, and members of the Selection Committee and Board of Directors, a fitting gathering to mark the beginning of what this award is meant to become.
In September 2025, the IRS formally notified the organization that the Colorado High School Baseball Player Award Corporation had been recognized as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), enabling it to receive tax-deductible contributions under IRC Section 170.
The Roy Halladay Award is now entering its second year. Congratulations to Wyatt Rudden and to every outstanding student-athlete nominated for the inaugural award. Their talent, character, and dedication to the game reflect exactly what this award was created to honor, and exactly what Roy Halladay embodied throughout his remarkable life.
Starting April 27th and running until June 8th. Submit nominations for outstanding Colorado high school baseball players who exemplify excellence, character, and leadership both on and off the field.
A comprehensive review of all nominations to identify finalists and select the Roy Halladay Award recipient.
A celebratory event honoring the Roy Halladay Award recipient and presenting the award.
