Former Colorado High School Activities Association assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann died Monday evening after experiencing a recent illness that rapidly deteriorated.
Borgmann was instrumental in the creation of the CHSAA Hall of Fame and served as either chair or an acting member from 2004 until his retirement in 2021.
Borgmann was hired in 1988 and retired after the 2020-21 school year as the longest-tenured CHSAA employee to date with an 33 years of service to the association and its membership.
“Losing someone like Bert who has had such a strong and positive influence on so many lives is very difficult to quantify,” CHSAA Commissioner Michael Krueger said. “Through our heartbreak today it is comforting to think about the thousands of friends, colleagues, athletes and coaches whose lives were touched by such a caring leader. There is a debt of gratitude that can only be repaid by recognizing and celebrating the strong legacy that Bert leaves with us.”
A graduate of Broomfield High School, Borgmann worked for many years in athletic and activity administration, including the sports information offices at Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado prior to joining the CHSAA staff. He oversaw nearly every sanctioned sport, as well as music, over the course of his career at CHSAA.
“Bert was one of my first friends at the CHSAA office and from Day 1, he was the most loyal, dedicated, committed and selfless person I knew,” CHSAA associate commissioner Bethany Brookens said. “His life was committed to education-based activities, and he will be greatly missed across our state, in addition to people all over the country whose lives he positively impacted.”
The caretaker of CHSAA’s history, Borgmann was a wealth of knowledge about the association and was a remarkable storyteller. He was well-respected for his knowledge, experience and leadership throughout the CHSAA membership as well at the National Federation of State High School Associations, and left a lasting legacy for elevating media relations, corporate partnerships and legislative relations at CHSAA. Former CHSAA commissioner Bob Ottewill remarked that Borgmann “never hesitated to take on any assignment – from basketball czar to snow shoveling duties – and did so with enthusiasm, a desire to learn and improve, and an uncommon ability to work with athletes, coaches, officials, event managers and even parents.”
At the national level, Borgmann served on various committees, including serving as chair of the Selection Committee for the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He also served as chair of the National Records Committee and has been a member of the National High School Hall of Fame Screening and Sportsmanship Committee and NFHS Baseball Rules Committee. He was a member of the NFHS Softball Rules Committee and NFHS Annual Summer Meeting Advisory Committee.
Borgmann helped to start a gathering of sports information directors at the annual NFHS summer meeting. It grew from an unofficial meeting of a handful of attendees to one that became part of the official schedule, and was attended by dozens – many of whom became Borgmann’s good friends.
In helping CHSAA grow into a modern organization, Borgmann received many awards over the course of his career. He received the Jim Saccomano Award (National Football Federation – Colorado Chapter), the Ray Lutz Award (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference), is a member of the Colorado Dugout Club Hall of Fame (Colorado Baseball Coaches Association), received the NFHS Section 6 “Citation Award” for outstanding contribution to the mission of the NFHS, served as chair and acting member of the NFHS Press Committee, and is a is a Lifetime Honorary Member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials Board 4, as well as many other honors.
“Bert was my first contact at the CHSAA office when I was an athletic director,” CHSAA assistant commissioner Jenn Roberts-Uhlig said. “He was always there to advise and support. Then, having the opportunity to work alongside him for 10 years was just awesome. He was a teddy bear who genuinely cared about those around him.
“His heart was so big. Bert was everyone’s biggest cheerleader and he helped make CHSAA what it is today. He loved the CHSAA membership and the many great people within it. He was an incredible advocate for high school athletics and activities, as well as media. His legacy will live on for many years to come.”
Borgmann was married to the late Alexandra Hays and is survived by his two children, Logan and Callie, as well as his grandson Gunnar.
