Dudley Wood Bolyard

Dudley Wood Bolyard, 90, a 64-year resident of Colorado, died Nov. 3, 2022, peacefully at his home surrounded by family. Born May 26, 1932, in Tyler, Texas, he and his brother Steve were raised by Garrett and Verda Bolyard in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Garrett was a geologist with Barnsdall Oil Company.

At 15, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and spent the next three summers as a Trail Guide at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City, where he received the distinguished honor of “Best Physique”, a title he enjoyed for the remainder of his days.

In 1953, he received a Bachelor of Science with honors, geology, from Yale University, and his Master of Science, geology, from Colorado University in 1956. A few weeks later, Dudley married the love of his life, Marion Mulholland. Together they raised 3 daughters: Sandra, Nancy, and Joyce in Littleton.

He was an avid member of the Yale Mountaineering Club, organizing and co-leading The Yale-Logan Expedition in the unexplored Logan Mountains within the Canadian Rockies during the summer after his junior year. Practically nothing was known about this region between the Northwest Territories and the Yukon at the time. His team was instrumental in mountaineering (summiting and naming 9 previously unclimbed peaks, though names have since been changed), exploratory work, and preliminary geologic reconnaissance in the region. After graduating from Yale, he worked to map Ellef Ringnes Island in the harsh environment of the Canadian Arctic, for the Canadian Geologic Survey. In 1956, he became a member of the American Alpine Club, a great honor.

Dudley had a distinguished career as an independent petroleum geologist. He was a past president and honorary member of the Rocky Mountain Association of Petroleum Geologists, and an honorary member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He was the founder and first president of the Denver Earth Resources Library. A lifelong learner, his travels and research were a culmination of his passions including earth science, history, and politics.

He was a man of many interests, but first and foremost was his family. The Bolyards spent time together traveling and enjoying the family cabin in the Poudre Canyon. He could often be found on the deck or out front of the cabin enjoying a glass of Jim Beam amid a steady stream of smoke, cooking steaks and hamburgers on the BBQ. Laughter from friends and family members usually accompanied, along with the clinking of glasses as they cheered to a day of adventure. Dudley enjoyed hiking, fishing, skiing, hunting, backpacking, and mountain climbing. He climbed all fifty-four 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado, including the first known winter ascent of Mount Sneffels, back in the days of solitary summits and prior to the advent of guidebooks and foot paths. He also climbed in Wyoming, New Mexico and the Northwest Territories of Canada.

His survivors include his wife of 66 years, Marion Bolyard, their children, Sandra Bolyard and her children Kathryn and Carolyn Blehm, Nancy Bolyard (Bob), Joyce Bolyard and son Neil Rutherford, sister- in- law Jean Bolyard, nieces Susan (Rob) Gardner and Holly (Bruce) Maddox, and nephew Garrett (Molly) Bolyard.

Dudley was an avid reader and amongst his favorites was Homer’s “The Odyessy”, which he read too many times to count. He was enthralled by the hero, Odysseus who bravely conquered many challenges on his long voyage. Family and friends wish Dudley safe travels on his own, final epic journey.

A celebration of Life will be held at Olinger’s Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd. on Sunday, November 27th beginning at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Bolyard Family Scholarship at the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists Foundation at 1550 Larimer St., Suite 900, Denver, CO 80202.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerchapelhill.com for the Bolyard family.