Jim Bedford, fifty-plus-year resident of Telluride, CO, died June 20, 2026, after death-defying feats of resilience for six rich and wonderful years. His wife and other family members were with him.

Jim was born at Eglin Air Force Base near Valparaiso, FL, on August 18, 1944, to Carol Rosaland (Johnson) Bedford and Lt. Col. John Peter Windover Bedford. His father's tours of duty took the family to and from North Africa, Washington, DC, and Italy all before Jim was 11. He graduated high school in Falls Church, VA, and earned a bachelor’s in political science from Missouri’s Tarkio College.

In 1972, after several years’ antiwar activism in the nation’s capital, Jim “ran away,” as he liked to say, “from Richard Nixon.” He visited Telluride at the suggestion of younger brother Bo and was immediately enchanted by the invitation to help dream a dying silver town back into vibrancy. A modern renaissance man, Jim brought vision, pragmatism, dedication, and deep love of community, nature, books, music, film, and art to his new town. In short order he opened a print shop, managed the newly renovated Sheridan Opera House movie theater, and became a protégé of its renovators Bill and Stella Pence. He co-founded radio station KOTO-fm, began a 36-year run as director of operations of the Telluride Film Festival, sat consecutive terms on Town Council, managed MountainFilm, and served as county commissioner. He held down third and occasionally first base for the Floradora softball team, enjoyed every acre of the ski area 100+ days a year, and took part in dozens of other festivals, public boards, and commissions. By the late 1970s he was known to many in town as BF Deal, a name he wore proudly.

Yet Jim’s greatest pride came from working alongside others. He loved to tell the story of the can-do gang of nonexperts who imagined into being over the course of a few days the complex triptych screen needed to show Abel Gance’s legendary Napoleon in Elks Park for the 6th Film Festival. He was so proud to be among those who championed the Lawson Hill development, believing in its value long before it won the Colorado Governor’s Smart Growth Award and became a model for resort towns seeking to promote a ordable housing. Helping create local radio before local radio was cool? Helping create a town government open to any ideas that would bring people together in joy in a box canyon "nobody got to by mistake”? Being part of a town that could really-and-for-true conserve the Valley Floor? He was continually astonished by what community could do. And he was both great-hearted and wise, writing recently, “No one could have done these things alone. Every step along the way there were others, sometimes dozens, to help reach the finish line.”

A man of high standards, Jim could be a tough boss, but it’s equally true that he trusted people to grow into the potential he saw in them, and he enjoyed giving them chances to prove him right. In his many managerial roles, he identified the right people and their strengths, and he applauded as they surprised themselves with their success. Not until his 80th birthday, when he received a book of letters from those he had mentored and known, did he begin to understand the impact he had had on so many people.

At the end of his life, Jim often asked himself whether the changes he supported in the town he loved had been for better or for worse. But there were things he never once doubted. That relationships are worth tending all our lives long. That marrying Luci Reeve in 1987 was the best decision he ever made. And that the only reason he is not with us today is because, as he said in his last hours, “I just can’t do the SHOW.”

The show will go on … there will never be another BF.

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James Montgomery Bedford is predeceased by his brother Jack Bedford. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Luci Reeve; brother Bob (Bo) Bedford; sister Michelle Foley (and husband Bob); cousins Ellen Simek (and husband Ed) and Scott Schackel (and wife Anne Marie); daughters Kate Andrews (and husband Randy), Bronwyn Becker, Shine Pritchard (and husband Cody); honorary son Curtis Walker; niece Caroline Foley (and husband Zach Vargas); nephews Brad Bedford and Jake Bedford; grandchildren Sheridan Pritchard (and spouse Val), Winter Seyfer, Grahm Pritchard, Maya Andrews, Given Czuchrey, and Clare Andrews; great-grandchildren Symphony Pritchard and Philip Pritchard; and hundreds of friends whom he considered family.

The family wishes to thank each person who called, wrote, and stopped by during Jim’s last six years. Your love and friendship made him eager to live longer, and he did, fully. We also wish to thank the many hospice team members who went above and beyond in their care for all of us.

Jim’s celebration of life will be held August 18, 2026, in Telluride Town Park at 2pm. Please join us if you can. Donations may be made in Jim’s honor to KOTO at koto.org/donate. In the Donate to Your Favorite DJ or Program dropdown menu, please select BF Deal.

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Image Credits go to Ingrid Lundahl