Richard Eugene “Dick” Dedrick of Denver, Colorado, died peacefully Jan. 4, 2023, at Cherrelyn Health Care Center in Littleton, Colorado. He was 87.
Dick Dedrick spent nearly his entire life in Colorado, where he was known for long, productive endeavors in many creative fields, including broadcasting and advertising, but his greatest achievements were as a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a beloved friend, family member and media personality who loved laughter, movies and music.
Born on Dec. 18, 1935, in Denver, Colorado, Dick was adopted at the Denver Orphans’ Home by Roy and Mildred (Overmiller) Dedrick, who raised their only child in Yuma, Colorado. After graduating from Yuma High School, Dick attended the Colorado State College of Education at Greeley (now University of Northern Colorado) with plans of becoming a teacher, like his mother.
Instead, his career in radio took root while in college in Greeley, and led to announcing and production jobs in Denver radio, including KLAK-AM, beginning in the late 1950s. Dick’s broadcasting career was interrupted when he was drafted, serving honorably in the U.S. Army for two years. He and his first wife, Susanne (Warner) Dedrick, were based in El Paso, Texas, during this time, returning home to Denver after his discharge.
Dick and Sue raised two sons, Jay and Kyle, in the Denver area while Dick advanced in his career, which transitioned from radio to television. As a producer, director and writer, he contributed to many programs at KWGN-TV (Channel 2) in the 1960s and 1970s, including the nightly 9 O’Clock News and such children’s programming as “Romper Room” and “Blinky the Clown.” A creative force in any setting, Dick followed his time in local TV with a productive stint at Glen Owen Advertising, where he led audio and video productions for the agency and showcased his commercial jingle-writing and -performing talents.
Dick returned to his radio roots by founding Yuma’s first station, KJCO-FM, in 1978, where he served as co-owner and station manager for over a decade. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, he taught broadcast news in Denver and worked as a freelance radio and TV producer. A gifted filmmaker and videographer, he went on to produce wedding videos throughout the Denver area and traveled across the country for freelance video projects before retiring in the early 2000s.
A movie buff, Dick for many years made a hobby of traveling around the state with his self-built Little Nickelodeon, a tent theater where audiences at shopping malls and county fairs could watch silent films on a silver screen. Dick also was passionate about music, having performed live in rock and country bands as a young man. He was a singer, songwriter and musician who produced recordings of himself and others throughout his life.
In retirement, he never stopped creating, writing novels and producing nostalgic video and audio programs for entertainment and education. He was at work on another book at the time of his death.
Dick said his greatest joy in life came after he married Bobbe (Neal) in 1992 and began a journey together as grandparents – first to the children of Bobbe’s daughter Kim (Gillen) Muller, and of son Richard Gillen; and later to the children of Dick’s sons Kyle and Jay.
Dick is survived by his wife, Bobbe, of Denver, Colorado; sons Jay (Melissa) of Broomfield, Colorado, and Kyle (Kathy) of Springfield, Virginia; stepdaughter Kim (Kevin) of Centennial, Colorado; stepson Richard of Denver, Colorado; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Cremation has taken place, with interment to take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. A celebration of life with Dick’s family and friends is planned for the spring; details will be announced at a later date.
2023-01-27