Nationally renowned ceramic artist Rodger Lang came to Denver thirty years ago to join the art faculty at Metropolitan State College of Denver. He founded and built one of the best clay programs around, arousing the undying loyalty of generations of students. Two years ago, Lang was instrumental in snagging the prestigious National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts conference, and he served as chairman when the group met in Denver this past March. But that's not all Lang did. He was also the force behind the scores of ceramic shows presented throughout the area when 3,000 ceramicists were in town. It all went without a hitch and was astoundingly successful in bringing ceramic art to the more broadly interested contemporary art world. And then, unbelievably, just two weeks after the conference closed and while most of the associated ceramic shows were still open, Lang died of cancer. Though life is short, art is long, and Lang's best efforts in promoting Colorado ceramics will benefit the field for years to come.