Kirk Relford Obituary

Relford
Kirk D Relford
August 6, 1949
January 12, 2026

Kirk was born in Indianapolis, IN in 1949. He graduated from Boulder High School in 1967, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1975, and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1977. He served with the Boulder Police Department from 1972 to 1979, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. He was appointed City Manager and Director of Public Safety for Woodland Park, CO from 1979 to 1984 and subsequently served as the Acting Chief of Police during his tenure as the City Administrator and City Manager for Greenwood Village, CO from 1986 to 1992. He continued to work in local government until 1999 serving as the contract or designated manager for numerous local Colorado government districts and agencies in Summit, Larimer, El Paso, Arapahoe and Pueblo counties while operating as the owner, partner, or agent for several private public administrative, management and real estate development consulting firms until 2010. He received numerous certificates of achievement and awards throughout his career including a personal meeting and acknowledgement from President George Bush, senior. He was awarded both his badge as Lieutenant from the Boulder PD and his badge as Chief of Police from Greenwood Village. After serving Woodland Park he was acknowledged by the City Council with a plaque of appreciation for "devoted service." Upon leaving Greenwood Village, the Mayor and City Council presented him with a bronze statuette and plaque that stated in part, "Your professionalism, your thoughtfulness, your integrity, your genuine concern have made this a better corner of the world." In 2005, he attended the Allard Capital Conference in Washington, D.C. to participate in a series of forums with various national leaders including past Presidents of Universities in Colorado, Betsy Hoffman and Kay Norton. In 2012, he authored the novel, The Boulder Boys.
He was a Life Member of the American Legion and a strong supporter of the Disabled American Veterans. He was also a member of the CU Alumni Association, a Life Member of the NRA and a contributor to Compassion and the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association. He is survived by his wife Bonnie (Mullen), his sister Jeannie Relford, his daughter Krista Reece, his son Matthew, his daughter-in-law Elizabeth, and his grandson and namesake, Kirk, and three granddaughters, Peyton, Lauryn and Kayla. His ashes will be introduced at his burial site in Mountain View Cemetery in Boulder, Colorado.