Reid Duane Pope

Reid Duane Pope was born in Loveland, CO on November 7, 1929. He passed away on September 20, 2023 just short of his 94th birthday. Reid's family moved to Johnstown, CO when he was five years old. He attended first through twelfth grade in Johnstown and graduated from high school in 1947. During his senior year, at 17 years old, he obtained his license to drive a school bus, driving the bus each morning and afternoon the remainder of the year while participating in sports during the last period of the day.

Reid graduated from Colorado State College of Education (now University of Northern Colorado) in 1951 with a B.A. degree in Physical Education. He started his teaching and coaching career at Timnath High School teaching math, industrial arts and P.E. He was the assistant coach in football, basketball and track. Reid continued to drive the school bus in the morning. The fall of 1952 he was elevated to head coach in all three sports. He coached the Class B State Championship Track Team in 1953, which was the first and only state championship Timnath High School won.

He served in the Army National Guard prior to being called to active duty in June 1953 and served until December 1955. The last 18 months of his service was in Okinawa, Japan where his middle son was born. He achieved the rank of Master Sergeant, serving in the Field Artillery Branch. While in Okinawa he coached the Okinawa Army football team for two seasons. His last season there, he was selected to coach the Japan Army All-Star team which played the Japan Navy All-Star team on Thanksgiving Day.

After being discharged from the Army, he returned to Greeley and received his M.S. degree in 1956. He then went to Cache La Poudre High School as Principal, head football and basketball coach and assistant track coach. That fall he coached the football team to the State Class B Football Championship which was the only state championship for Cache La Poudre High School.

Reid was the Superintendent of Cache La Poudre School District for the school years 1959-1960. In the fall of 1960, the school district was merged into Poudre R-1 School District, and he once again became the principal of Cache La Poudre High School.

In the fall of 1964, Poudre High School opened, and Reid was appointed the principal. The students from Cache La Poudre High School, Wellington High School and students from the north side of Ft. Collins were merged into Poudre. He was principal at Poudre for 21 years, retiring in June 1985. Reid was employed a total of 34 years in what is now Poudre R-1 School District, in which he served 29 years as a principal.

During his career, Reid served on numerous school related local and state education and athletic committees and boards and also served as the Poudre R1 School Board's negotiator with the Teacher's Union for 12 years.

From his first marriage of 20 years, three sons were born, Randy, Greg, and Russ. After 13 years of being single, he met Nelda Sue Leopard -Blythe. They were married in June 1985, four days after he retired from the school district. Nelda had four children, Darrell, Brent, Garen and Rhonda. They have 14 grandchildren and 15 great- grandchildren.

Reid and Nelda owned a travel agency for two years after Reid's first retirement and they were able to travel extensively.

Reid was preceded in death by his parents, both brothers and a step-son.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, October 9 at 10:30 am at Faith Church in Ft Collins.

Bohlender Funeral Chapel will be handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Poudre High School Impala Fund, PO Box 722, Ft Collins, CO 80522, https://www.foreverpoudre.com/