Meet Gary Corbett | Auctioneer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gary Corbett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gary, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
We live in an age of acrimony, fed by soundbites and stereotypes. What inspires me is the opposite. As a benefit-fundraising auctioneer for so many years, every bias of my own — religious, political, cultural, racial, gender, ideological — gets challenged constantly by the incredible generosity and commitment displayed from a broad swath of our community to a variety of causes.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After college, graduate school, and during a career in the non-profit world it occurred to me I was not treading a happy path. For better or for worse, as a kid in school I enjoyed performing. I seemed to consider a classroom as a ready audience. As my best auctioneer buddy puts it, “It doesn’t matter if they laugh with me or at me… just so they laugh near me.” A cynical view might lead to therapy; but as I matured I came to realize this is just me. Auctioneering seemed to pop in my mind often while growing up. I always admired the rhythmic chant of a country auctioneer.. Still do. I decided to enroll in a ten-day learn-how-to-learn course in the Kansas City stockyards, The Missouri Auction School. I had only one goal in mind. To show off at family picnics.

After fininshing, a neighbor was chairing a school fundraiser. She asked, “Are you a real auctioneer?” I answered no, but thought I could imitate one. I’ve been imitating auctioneers ever since..

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Number one, I’d stay away from I-25. Breakfast in or near Union Station is a great starting point. After rush-hour then the next great stop is Red Rocks, maybe lunch at the Morrison Inn. Great Spinach Enchiladas. Head up 285 towards Fairplay, stop off at the historic abandoned railroad station along the way, then on to Buena Vista, schooling my friend on the town’s correct incorrect pronunciation. Next stop: Crested Butte, over Cottonwood Pass. Gorgeous town. As I say every year at the auction for the Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Center, a heavenly community of down-to-earth people. Makes no difference which way to go back to Denver. Every route is stunning..

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Too many to name. I’d hate to leave anyone out. A poem by William Carlos Williams, profound in its simplicity, means a lot to me:

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

Other: Gary Corbett, Auctioneer gary@garycorbettauctions.com 303-548-3063