Philip G. Dufford
| Publication year | 2010 |
| Pages | 43 |
2010, July, Pg. 43. Philip G. Dufford
July 2010
Vol. 39, No. 7 [Page 43]
About the Author
Chris G. Baumgartner is an associate with Dufford & Brown, P.C. practicing primarily in commercial litigation-cbaumgartner@duffordbrown.com. He extends special thanks to Kathy Dufford for her assistance with this article, and acknowledges Dufford & Brown attorneys Tom Brown, Mechelle Faulk, Dave Furgason, Chris Hammond, and John Heronimus for their contributions.
He was full of grace, dignity, and humility. He was so gracious and humble that I often wondered whether he ever comprehended the extent and significance of the man he became.
Miles Cortez(fn1) Phil Dufford lived a remarkable life and left a lasting impact on every aspect of Colorado's legal community. From his simple upbringing, Phil went on to become a preeminent natural resources lawyer, an esteemed educator, a respected jurist, a leader of the Bar, a prolific author, and a talented artist.
Phil always found time to enjoy life to the fullest. He is as well known for wry wit as he is for his numerous professional accomplishments.
The Early Years
Philip G. Dufford was born on February 2, 1926 in Sunnyside, Utah.(fn2) Phil was the son of a coal miner and was one of four children. When Phil was 6 years old, his father left the mines, deciding to begin a career in insurance. The change in his father's occupation resulted in the family's move to Grand Junction.
Phil's commitment and service to his community was learned early in life from his father's example. Although Phil's father had only a seventh-grade education, he refused to let that exclude him from civic involvement. Phil's father served on the Grand Junction City Council and as a State Representative in the Colorado Legislature.
Early on, Phil intended to pursue a military career, and in 1942, he entered the Millard Preparatory Academy in Washington, DC; his goal was to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Despite the distinct honor of receiving two appointments to West Point, Phil's less-than-ideal eyesight prevented him from gaining admission. Undeterred, Phil volunteered for service in the U.S. Army during World War II. Phil was stationed in the Philippines and ultimately attained the rank of second lieutenant through a field commission.
At the conclusion of the war, Phil returned to Grand Junction and enrolled at Mesa College. Phil and his brother Jim were the first from his family to ever attend college. Phil excelled in school, and although he had intended to become an engineer, his natural talents in English and history, as well as his success on the Mesa College debate team, steered him toward law school. Phil transferred from Mesa State and completed his final year of undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado (CU) in Boulder. He decided to remain in Boulder and continue at CU School of Law.
As he did with every endeavor he undertook, Phil dove head-first into law school. He began his career of scholarly contributions to the profession by serving on the board of editors of the Rocky Mountain Law Review, which was the predecessor to the University of Colorado Law Review.
Phil also met his wife, Kathy Ducy, while he was in law school. They married in 1951, when Phil was in his third year of law school. Phil and Kathy had four children.
The Lawyer
After law...
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