L. Richard (Dick) Bratton
In Memoriam

Dick Bratton’s dedication to his clients and the attorneys with whom he practiced, coupled with his energy, hard work, professionalism, and optimistic outlook, were and will continue to be an inspiration. Dick practiced law for over 65 years. He joined our firm in January 2012. He practiced from our Gunnison office in the areas of water and other natural resources law, and real estate law. Dick’s interest in water started in the Salida area where he was born, having been raised 100 yards from the Arkansas River and working on local ranches. He was best known in the water world for representing the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District for over 40 years, commencing in 1961, where he represented the Board in legal, policy and political matters, including successfully defeating an application for a large transmountain diversion and a case of first impression in establishing the right to store water in a reservoir for future use within the river downstream for recreational uses. Dick had litigation and transactional experience in many areas of water law, especially in representing ranchers in water rights adjudications, diligence proceedings, changes of water rights and water rights title and conveyance matters. He was an active member of the Colorado Water Congress for more than 60 years; he was president in 1975 and received its Wayne N. Aspinall Leadership award in 2002. In 2002, Dick was appointed by President George W. Bush to be Chairman of the Upper Colorado River Commission, and he served until 2010.

Dick obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954 from Western State College (now known as Western Colorado University) in Gunnison, where he served as Student Body President and excelled as a three-sport athlete. He received his law degree from University of Colorado, Boulder in 1957. In 1975, Dick was instrumental in the founding of the Western Colorado University Foundation, and was a long-time, tireless supporter of WCU. The Dick and Donna Bratton Scholarship was established in 2024 by the Western Colorado University Foundation to provide scholarship assistance to Western Colorado University students in honor of Dick and Donna Bratton.