AURORA — Francis “Gene” Bunnelle, one of the central figures on various state levels for Colorado high school sports for decades, died on Sunday after battling illness. He was 88.
He was a native of Rankin, Ill., who eventually made his mark in the Rocky Mountains.
Bunnelle was a familiar administrator on the Western Slope, where he served as a teacher/coach at Fruita Junior High School as well as principal at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale.
Active in rules interpretations and officiating in multiple sports, Bunnelle was with the Colorado High School Activities Association for 24 years before retiring in 1988. He was instrumental in student-leadership workshops and conferences; was inducted into multiple halls of fame; was a member of numerous organizations and committees locally and nationally; and earned the National Federation of State High School Association’s distinguished service award in 1995.
Former CHSAA commissioner Bob Ottewill, who worked with Bunnelle for years, lamented the loss of his good friend and noted that he was one of the last administrators from the era that oversaw significant state growth, suburban development, inclusion of parochial schools and sanctioning of female athletics.
Bunnelle graduated from Rankin Township High School in 1945, then earned a bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, in 1950 and a master’s degree in 1959 from Western State College in Gunnison.
He is survived by wife, Vivian, and two children. Services are pending.
Here is a story on Bunnelle being , a series headed by longtime Post reporter Irv Moss, in 2011.
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or twitter.com/neildevlin
