Ned Wiley High

Ned Wiley High, longtime Denver resident, and former journalist and public relations professional, died after a very brief illness on December 20, 2024, at 90. He will be missed by many, particularly his family who all gathered to be with him.

The eldest of three, Ned was born and raised in Rippey, Iowa, a small town he referred to as simply a “wide spot in the road.” Ned boasted of graduating in the top 10 of his high school class … of 10.

A strong student and curious about the world, Ned enrolled at Iowa State University to study mechanical engineering. He quickly pivoted to a liberal arts curriculum, and after two years transferred to the University of Iowa where he immersed himself in television production at a time when TV was in its infancy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and dramatic arts in 1957.

In 1958 Ned was drafted. The development accelerated his plans to marry his sweetheart, Carol. They wed in October 1958 in Carol’s hometown of Minburn, Iowa. A month later, after completing basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, Ned departed for Baumholder, Germany. Carol joined him the following March, and together they explored Germany and the rest of Europe, making memories and sweet music. (Ned was an accomplished musician and played baritone horn in the Army marching band, while also collaborating with some buddies in a jazz combo that played at beer fests and events around central Germany.)

With his military service complete, Ned returned to the University of Iowa to earn his master’s degree in journalism. He and Carol then moved to Denver, where Ned took a job with KLZ Radio and Television. He wrote newscasts and covered everything from natural disasters to the state legislature. Colorado’s ski industry was just beginning to boom, and he developed a TV and radio show covering the sport’s evolution, including the opening of Vail, the expansion of Mt. Werner in Steamboat Springs, Aspen's growth, and various events and races. Resort managers from across the state called him daily with ski conditions for his reports.

After six years in the news business, Ned shifted gears and embarked on a 50-year career in public relations. In the late 1960s, Consolidated Oil and Gas, one of Ned’s Denver-based clients, began developing Princeville, a 27-hole golf resort on the North Shore of Kauai. The company asked Ned to oversee public relations for the resort, requiring him to move his family of five to the tiny Pacific island. Ned's job was to publicize the emerging world-class resort, which at the time was mostly pastureland overlooking some of the most beautiful scenery in the Hawaiian Islands. Kauai’s legendary red dirt was just being turned for the development when Ned arrived with his family. Within two years the Robert Trent Jones-designed course was open, and the golf world knew it. Sports Illustrated’s Dan Jenkins declared it "Paradise Improved" in a story he penned on Princeville.

After nearly six years, Ned had mostly accomplished his mission, and the family moved back to Denver. He continued to work closely with Princeville’s developer and had just gotten settled when one of the seeds he had planted on Kauai finally bore fruit. Princeville was selected to host the 1978 World Cup golf tournament, and Ned was named its chairman. For six months he traveled back and forth to Kauai to oversee preparation for the event, which was a huge success.

Ned eventually opened Denver-based Ned High Public Relations, and he and Carol fed their passions for all things Colorado―skiing, golf, tennis, camping, and long drives through the mountains, to name a few. He twice participated in Ride the Rockies, and he and Carol took several biking tours through the U.S. and Europe. Bored with retirement, he became a professional driver (according to his grandchildren) and spent 15 years delivering rental cars around Colorado and Wyoming for Budget/Avis.

Ned was nearly preceded in death by himself. In January 2024, he contracted Covid, the flu and pneumonia, and his family was encouraged to consider hospice. Instead, Ned executed a brilliant head fake on the critical care team at Rose Medical Center and began a near-miraculous recovery. Back on his feet, he commenced an 11-month victory lap that included extensive travel with family throughout the western U.S., a surprise 90th birthday party, daily walks in the park with Carol, lunches and dinners at his favorite restaurants, and lots of time with family and friends.

Ned was well-read, well-traveled and perpetually curious. He devoured books and magazines and was passionate about music. He had an irreverent, dry-as-a-bone sense of humor, and loved to laugh. Above all, he was a deeply kind man, and he warmed the hearts of those around him.

Ned is survived by Carol, his wife of 67 years, children Laura High (Steve Harris), Geoff High (Mallory), David High (Dimmye), sister Julie McAllister, grandchildren Eliza, J.D., Chase and Wiley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, January, 31, at the Lake House at Pelican Bay (Cherry Creek State Park marina), 4800 S. Dayton St., Greenwood Village, CO 80111.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing in his name to one of these worthy organizations: Colorado Public Radio (www.cpr.org), Rocky Mountain Audubon (rockies.audubon.org), The Action Center (theactioncenter.org).