Revisiting history illuminates the present.

• Author: Taylor, Mike
• Position: EDITOR'S NOTE - Editorial

If there's a common thread to this issue of ColoradoBiz, it's one of people, companies and entire industries enduring tough periods, standing the test of time and somehow rebounding, ultimately making Colorado a better place. Three stories touch on this theme, at a time when Denver, and much of Colorado for that matter, have rarely appeared so vibrant economically, relative to the rest of the country. And yet there are reasons for concern, namely the downturn of the oil industry and housing affordability.

In our cover story, contributing writer Allen Best looks back at the 1980s economic downturn prompted by plummeting oil prices. He examines conditions then and now, and talks to economists and business leaders of both eras to find out how Denver and the rest of Colorado have changed, and what risks remain despite assurances that the state's economy is now much more diverse and resilient.

Speaking of enduring: As part of our annual ranking of the state's Top 50 Family-Owned Companies, we highlight Seattle Fish Co., a third-generation business that for nearly 100 years has dispelled the notion that landlocked customers can't get fresh seafood. Contributing writer Margaret Jackson details how 16-year-old Mose Iacino devised a system back in 1918 for transporting seafood, packed in sawdust and ice, from Seattle to Colorado by railcar. Mose's grandson, James Iacino, is...