We were sad to hear of the passing of Vince Bodiford, publisher and friend. Vince was well-known in the community in the midwest, having owned and operated several papers and online news outlets as well as automotive publications.
Because Vince had so much impact on the community here and around the country, we thought we’d give a voice to those who called him boss, colleague, and friend.
For myself, Vince was a person I met after I’d already become established as an automotive journalist. We would have coffee, talk shop, and compare notes on vehicles. I did not find out until later that my start in automotive, which came with a lot of help from the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, was thanks to Vince. He was one of the founders of RMAP. A place where car writers and journalists in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and other mountain states can come together and help one another. Vince was a good man and his loss is felt.
Vince founded several newspapers and media companies through his career. He created newspapers in Michigan, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming.
“I’ve known Vince for more than 30 years,” wrote Ben Miller at American City Business Journals. “First when we were trying to get the fledgling Rocky Mountain Automotive Press off the ground in the early 1990s. And later in the late 1990s, as I worked for him when he was publisher of one of the two newspapers in Sidney, Nebraska … Sorry to hear about his passing.”
“Vince was one of my first connections in the automotive industry in 1999,” said Melissa Schulte of Golden Spike Roofing and Elk Grove Custom Homes. “He always had a fierce drive to create the new and include everybody that he could. I remember laughing over press event cocktails and the bear hug that you would receive when you first saw him. He’ll be missed.”
Most recently, Vince founded The Cheyenne Post and was president of the local region for Adams Publishing Group, which owns the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the Laramie Boomerang, and others.
“I joined the Cheyenne Post shortly after it launched in 2019,” said Dave Lerner, Digital Editor of the Cheyenne Post, “and was there as the paper went from print to the internet, to joining the Adams Publishing Group. I was also there as Vince Bodiford created one of the largest media companies in the country. Vince was warm and friendly and a great leader. He knew the news business inside and out, and used that knowledge to create great news organizations, including the Cheyenne Post. Vince was generous with his time and energy, and the results were always excellent. Plus he was a genuinely nice guy. He cared a lot about Cheyenne and our community and it showed in every conversation. I’ll miss him a lot.”
Vince also pursued his passion for automotive through his own enterprises, including the online outlet The Weekend Drive.
“Vince was a friend and a mentor for me in the automotive industry,” writes Jimmy Dinsmore of The Weekend Drive and author of Mustang By Design. “His passion for cars and driving was infectious. His guidance about the industry and his passion helped provide a new perspective for me. He helped make me a better writer and shaped how I covered the industry. I will miss him dearly and think of him often.”
We’ll let the words of Dave Mustaine speak for Vince, as we knew him. “Please smile, smile when you think about me. My body’s gone, that’s all.”
