Ken Furman was a Charter Member of the Boulder Valley Umpires Association and the Area Director for two terms. He was also a member of the Colorado High School Baseball Umpires Association (CHSBUA) and was elected President from 1981 through 1984. Ken holds the distinction of being the Colorado State Baseball Rules Interpreter for ten years. He was inducted as a CHSBUA Honorary Member in 1998. Ken also served as a Member of the International Approved Association of Baseball Officials ( IAABO) Executive Committee for eight years. He served as the first Boulder-Longmont Colorado High School Softball Umpires Association (CHSSUA) Area Director and was recognized in 1997 for his contributions to high school softball umpiring by the National Federation of International Officials Association (NFIOA). Other awards received were the Al Schalge Award from the IAABO and the Joel Greenstein Award for service to Boulder amateur baseball. Ken was given the most prestigious of honors when he was elected into the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Hall of Fame in 1997.

At his 1998 CHSBUA induction, Tom Smith, a friend and partner of Ken's in numerous baseball and basketball contests said, " Ken's professional leadership and involvement have been the largest contributing factors on CHSAA and its programs. Ken's total involvement as a teacher, coach, sponsor, referee and umpire has had a positive effect on literally thousands of young people and adults."

Ken was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 1997 and died February 18, 1999. His survivors include his wife Marilyn and daughters Heidi and Kristin.

After Ken's death, Bob Ottewill, CHSAA Commissioner, told the Boulder Daily Camera, "We've lost one of the greatest people who was ever involved in high school athletics. What stands out about him most is how much he helped other officials. He was never concerned about getting state championship games. He was more concerned about helping other people."

The Ken Furman Award:

The Boulder Valley Umpires Association Ken Furman Award is a prestigious memorial award presented annually to one umpire who aspires to the following qualities:

  • Enthusiasm for self improvement
  • Sound mechanics
  • Positioning and Hustle
  • Communication and Rapport
  • Professional Appearance
  • Deportment
  • Integrity
  • Mentoring of his fellow umpires
  • Overall contribution to baseball and the BVUA
The following Boulder Valley Umpires are recipients of the Ken Furman Award:
  • 2009: Ray Oletski
  • 2008: Nick Ramos
  • 2007: Andrew Waters
  • 2006: Mike Doohan
  • 2005: Dick Piland
  • 2004: Tom Smith
  • 2003: Don Pemberton
  • 2002: Todd Calvin
  • 2001: Dave Dettling
  • 2000: Garry Kubat
  • 1999: Brandon Schrenk

"In all the games I called, I never refused to talk to a coach because I understood their perspective since I once was a coach. If a coach wanted to know something, I'd always talk to them." - Ken Furman