Jim Gebhart
Jim was a founding board member of Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy. Born in 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pa., Jim graduated from Boston University in 1970 and moved to Crested Butte in 1973 after operating "The Bistro" restaurant in Santa Fe. Jim became actively involved in real estate as owner of Bighorn Realty/Coldwell Banker and the Gunnison Country Board of Realtors.Jim was instrumental in the founding and building of the Friends Hut and served on the boards of Crested Butte Land Trust and Friends of Paradise. He had a true love of his community and was a tireless advocate of open space. The Legacy board and staff will always remember the dedication and sense of humor that Jim brought to our organization.
Thanks to the generosity of Jim's family and friends, Legacy has established a permanent ongoing memorial fund in his honor. Proceeds from the Jim Gebhard Memorial Fund are used to cover purchase and transactions costs associated with conservation easements that protect Gunnison County's beautiful, productive ranchlands.
Every time Gunnison Ranchland Legacy protects a ranch, Jim's memory will be honored through contributions from this memorial fund.
Fred Field
Fred was a lifelong Gunnison Valley rancher. His leadership and generous spirit were widely respected in the community. Fred grew up on his parent's ranch in the Tomichi Creek valley. He was a talented athlete and earned a scholarship to Colorado State University, but after an accident claimed the life of his brother, he chose to stay home and help on the ranch. Fred had three sons with his wife, Mary Esther, and emphasized the importance of an education to his children. All three boys graduated from college and pursued succesful professional careers. Fred was elected as County Commissioner in 1981 and continued to serve in that capacity for 23 years. He was well-respected for his loyalty and determination. He is credited with growth and development of the county-owned airport and hospital, as well as numerous improvements to county departments and creation of the Rural Transportation Authority and Toursim Association.
Fred's commitment to agriculture was above all else. He was a bridge for environmentalists and ranchers in efforts to preserve open space and ranch lands. He was instrumental in the creation of the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund and was a board member of Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy. He understood that the valley's future would be shaped by diverse interests and was an outspoken advocate for agriculture's presence in the conversation. Ranching brought him great joy and he continued working the ranch he loved so dearly until his death in 2007.
