Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct a misspelled name and clarify details about what type of gas was introduced into the dozer engine by Bret Howcroft.

On the afternoon of June 4, 2004, Granby was literally shaken by a modified Komatsu bulldozer that was turned into a heavily armored behemoth. Twenty years later, there are still heroes who live among us in the community whose actions saved lives that day.

The many victims, first responders and community members who helped during the attack and in the aftermath should be acknowledged. 

Glen Trainor, who now serves as the Fraser Winter Park Police chief and is a recipient of the 2024 Grand County Republican Patriot Award, is the epitome of a servant leader. 

Trainor’s informed intuition kicked in 20 years ago as one of the first law enforcement responders on scene of the bulldozer attack. 

While the person in the bulldozer was attacking the town and firing guns at law enforcement, Trainor, who was the undersheriff at the time, quickly determined where the bulldozer might be headed next. He activated the reverse 911 system to evacuate buildings. 

Glen attempted to jump on top of the huge, steel-encased monster, but it had been intentionally greased up along the sides. With what Trainor describes as divine intervention, he was given extraordinary strength to be able to lift himself high enough to clear the moving tracks and land on the top of the moving machine. 

Miraculously, Trainor held on as the machine lurched around town. On top of the bulldozer, he spotted a vent and thought it might be a way to stop the attacker. He expended rounds from his service weapon to no avail. 

Out of ammunition and with debris falling on top of him, Trainor jumped off the machine and rolled away on the ground so the bulldozer would not run him over. Then he continued protecting residents as the machine carried on.

Other local heroes acted quickly that day, too. Children enjoying storytime were evacuated by Granby Town Clerk Pro-Tem Cindy Seader and newly hired children’s librarian Tess Riley. Moments later, the bulldozer rammed the town hall. 

Residents Gary Hilton and Wayne Miller and a Colorado State Patrol trooper whisked toddlers from a local day care to safety. 

Another brave resident, Independent Propane Co. employee and former fire chief of Grand Lake Fire Department, Bret Howcroft, approached the apocalyptic machine to release propane into the engine to hopefully disable the engine. That heroic act was unsuccessful. 

Another hero who emerged was Grand County Road and Bridge Supervisor Clark Branstetter, who tried to stop the modified Komatsu D355A bulldozer — not once, but twice — with a 40-ton Caterpillar D-8A scraper. But it was no match for the armor-plated giant. Then he used a county road grader to try to partially block an escape route.

After the bulldozer became disabled and stuck in the basement of the store Gambles, the dust had finally settled. The machine and its creator were dead. 

The hours of rampage turned into years of rebuilding and reflection. 

Heroes risk personal harm to save others. These special people are the ones who should be remembered and celebrated this June 4. 

Penny Rafferty Hamilton is the author of “Around Granby” and “Grand County” history books and is a 32-year resident of Granby.