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Jim Bedford was a visionary, and an organizer. He was kind, confident in his convictions and, as those who knew him often said, a larger-than-life presence.

“He was one of the legends of Telluride,” said Bedford’s brother, Bo Bedford. “Jim made such an indelible imprint on everything. He’s at the top of the list for founding fathers of the new Telluride — 1970 on.”

Bedford died Saturday, June 20. He was 81.

Born Aug. 18, 1944, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, Bedford spent his childhood moving around the world with his military family, living in Morocco, Germany and throughout the United States.

Before arriving in Telluride, Bedford worked as a photographer for a television station in Washington, D.C. He came to Telluride in 1972 at age 27.

In 2025, KOTO Executive Director Cara Pallone sat down with Bedford to record his memories. He remembered the possibilities in Telluride were endless in those days.

“You could do anything,” Bedford said. “There was just a feeling that whatever we wanted to do, we could do.”

One of the things Bedford wanted to do was start a radio station.

Bedford found inspiration in Lorenzo Milam’s book, “Sex and Broadcasting.”

“It had a step-by-step guide how to build a radio station,” Bedford said. “You can tell I’ve read this at least four times because there’s four different color inks making notes in there.”

In 1974, Bedford convinced the Telluride Town Council to invest $10,000 in the effort. He enlisted the help of Denver cab driver and broadcast engineer Jerry Greene.

“He would come down and we’d ski and then we’d stay up and smoke pot and talk about radio,” Bedford said.

After months of paperwork and waiting for federal approval, KOTO signed on for the first time Oct. 3, 1975.

“When KOTO went on the air it was the soundtrack of our lives,” Bedford said. “You can toss that term around, but it was — especially ’75 to ’80, KOTO was what we listened to. It’s who we are up there in Telluride, and it tells the story of Telluride.”

But limiting Bedford’s legacy to KOTO alone would overlook the breadth of his contributions.

He served on the Telluride Town Council, directed Mountainfilm. He served on the San Miguel Board of County Commissioners. During his time as a commissioner, he cast a controversial vote approving development at Lawson Hill, a decision that ultimately cost him his seat.

Bedford’s daughter, Shine Pritchard, said her father never wavered in his belief that the project was necessary.

“He was so sure that was something that was needed,” Pritchard said. “He was so devastated when he lost the election, and he was so proud of it.”

Bedford also played a key role in the Telluride Film Festival and managed the Sheridan Opera House, where he met his love, Luci.

“The first time I locked myself out of the office, I called my boss and he’s like, ‘I don’t have a key, but maybe Jim does,’” said Luci Reeve. “I called BF and he said, ‘Sure I have a key; I’ll be right down.’ He and his daughter, Shine, came down and I met them. He’s been my mentor ever since.”

The two shared a love of film and worked together at the Opera House. They married in 1987.

“When we did get married BF wrote the wedding vows: I’ve been looking for a friend to love and looking for true love for a long time. I have found it and you are it. I promise to take care of you in sickness and health. I promise to love and help you. And I promise to communicate and understand you because you are my best friend and I love you,” Luci recalled.

Bedford was a devoted father who raised two daughters, Shine Pritchard and Bronwyn Becker.

“To me, he was a gentle giant,” Pritchard said.

He showed mutual respect, treating his daughters as his equals.

“If Dad was really clear about something, like telling me I couldn’t do something, because of the relationship I could say, ‘Okay, but what about this?’ and I could give back right to him an option that he hadn’t thought about,” Pritchard said. “He would mull it over and we would talk about it, and I could usually change his mind. Maybe that was just part of that grace he allowed me as his daughter.”

Whether through KOTO, the Telluride Film Festival or public service, Bedford remained deeply committed to his community.

“He found meaning in connection,” Becker said. “He found meaning in deep connection with other people, with place, with artwork. He loved being in awe of something or someone who was coming into his strength.”

“In being himself and doing a good job, by showing up, living a life out loud, not being afraid to try new things or to be direct or work for the greater good, he was making a bigger impact than he thought he was,” Prichard added. “He was just living his life to build a community that he wanted.”

May we all be a little more like him.

So, signing off for the final time, a really BF Deal.

“This is BF Deal, and whenever I’m in Telluride, I listen to KOTO.”

Bedford is survived by his wife, Luci; daughters Shine and Bronwyn; brother Bo; and sister Michelle.

A full recording of Bedford’s stories and memories of KOTO is available at KOTO.org.

(Photo: Axel Koch)