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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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1952-01-01 |
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| Name | Homer F. Bedford |
| Address |
Denver, Colorado , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
March 16, 1880
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| Died | March 26, 1968
(88 years)
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| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | BrentinCO
May 20, 2018 08:24pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Homer Bedford was born March 16, 1880 in Balltown, MO. and came to Colorado in 1898. President Wilson appointed him postmaster of Platteville from 1914 until 1921. He served five terms (1922-32) as county assessor of Weld County, and then entered state politics.
Beginning in 1933, Homer Bedford was either state auditor or state treasurer until 1967, except for a two year term of 1943 to 1945. Bedford ran for governor in 1942, and was badly beaten by John Vivian, the Republican, losing 149,402 to 193,501.
Homer displayed a mature sense of humor, telling reporters in defeat, "I thought I heard the call of the people, but it turned out to be six or seven of my friends." Homer ran again for state treasurer and won in 1945, opening a new routine of side stepping.
Starting with the 1958 election, executive branch offices changed to four year terms. After January, 1967, the state auditor became an appointed position under control of the state legislature.
Homer Bedford won statewide elections fourteen times; as state treasurer eight times and as state auditor six times. He served 32 years in office, more than anyone else has EVER served in the executive branch.
I do recall his last successful election. Bedford and other Democratic candidates came to a meeting hall in Denver in September or October of 1962. Bedford was a little slow in getting up onto the stage. He looked down on his audience and said "I'm Homer Bedford and I'm 82 years old, and I'm running for state treasurer." That was it, and then, with bowed legs, he slowly shuffled off the stage.
The year 1962 was not a good year for Democrats. Republicans swept the Colorado House and Senate. John Love was elected governor and Peter Dominick as U.S. Senator. Only two Democrats won in the executive branch: Bob Knous as lieutenant governor, and Homer Bedford as state treasurer.
Bedford left office in January, 1967, just a few months short of his 87th birthday. Having gone to the well once to often, he was badly defeated in the November, 1966 election for state treasurer by Republican Mrs. Virginia Blue.
In late January, 1968, Bedford slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk in front of his home (and according to the press story) while picking up his Sunday copy of the Rocky Mountain News. Bedford died at age 88, March 26, 1968 of a brain concussion caused by the fall.
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