The late Bob Chaffin, a Glenwood Springs attorney and dedicated volunteer, was honored Friday when friends and family gathered to dedicate a marble bench at the Garfield County Courthouse.

Gleaming white on the front lawn of the courthouse, the new bench bears the inscription, “Bob Chaffin ” One of the Really Good Guys.”

The bench is a joint project of the Advocate Safehouse Project, the Garfield County Commissioners and the city of Glenwood Springs. Chaffin died Sept. 26, 2002, at the age of 63.

Chaffin served on the Advocate Safehouse Project board for over 10 years, and was instrumental in creating its operating documents and securing permanent facilities. The Advocate Safehouse Project assists victims of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout Garfield County, and is widely regarded as a model program for the state of Colorado.

The courthouse location was chosen for the bench because of Mr. Chaffin’s long career as an attorney.

He was twice selected by the readers of the Post Independent as “Best Honest Attorney” in the Locals’ Choice Awards.

In addition to his activities with the Advocate Safehouse Project, he was instrumental as a board member and legal counselor to the Frontier Historical Society and to Defiance Community Players, for whom he was a founding board member.

The Bob Chaffin Memorial Bench was funded by the Advocate Safehouse Project’s board of directors, with the hope that others will follow his example of service to his community.

It was designed by local engineer Bruce Lewis, who is also a board member with The Advocate Safehouse Project.

The dedication was made by Julie Olson, executive director of the Advocate Safehouse Project, Joan Chaffin, Bob’s wife of 41 years, Terry Ewbank, who served with Chaffin at the Advocate Safehouse Project and with the Defiance Community Players Board, and many other friends.

Many of those from the organizations Mr. Chaffin helped, and several of his friends from the legal community were present for the dedication.