12th Annual Colorado Business Hall of Fame.

An early settler and Indian peace keeper, a young German immigrant with an amazing talent, an engineer by training with a Midas touch, an innovative investor who broke all the rules, a young journalist with a vision of greatness, and a developer who envisioned, then created, a great city.

These are the individuals who will be honored at the 12th Annual Colorado Business Hall of Fame. The event recognizes extraordinary business leaders who have made significant and lasting impressions on the state of Colorado, and aims to set an example for the leaders of tomorrow. Proceeds from the event fund the youth programs of Junior Achievement and a Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce scholarship fund through the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation. This year's inductees are best described as innovators. Their creativity and initiative inspired and shaped the business landscape of Colorado, compelling those who followed to continue down their path of commitment -- to business success, philanthropy and community involvement. Here's a look at the 2001 Hall of Fame laureates.

Thomas Bailey

Tom Bailey began with a one-room office in downtown Denver and a vision: To find and invest in dynamic, well-run companies - regardless of their size, industry or location. That vision still guides Janus, which today boasts more than $280 billion under total asset management, with more than 3,000 employees. The investment team has grown to 24 portfolio managers, four assistant portfolio managers and 30 analysts -- all committed to Bailey's principles. In the early days, when the Janus Fund grew from $625,000 to more than $3 million in its first year, Bailey's top priority was the individual investor, and Janus still plays by that rule. It was a key reason that Bailey chose Denver as the company's home. Being in Colorado, he believed, would free Janus from the traditional Wall Street way, allowing a fresh and different perspective on financial markets. Bailey has also been instrumental in the Janus Foundation, which assists more than 140 nationwide nonprofits by offering academic education programs to at-risk youth. In Denver, Janus has adopted seven public schools, providing the necessary funds and volunteers for students to complete the Junior Achievement curriculum.

William Bent

William Bent, born in St. Louis in 1809, was one of 11 children and the son of a Missouri Supreme Court Justice. He became a pioneer of commercial trade in Colorado. Bent enjoyed an educated...