He served nine years in prison. Now he’s mayor of his hometown
Alumnus Duane Gurulé discovered that the path to happiness is paved with education.
This story appears in the spring 2025 issue of RED Magazine.
Duane Gurulé poses for a picture with the Grinch at a community outreach event, wearing a Santa hat and a broad smile. He was there on behalf of Small Town Project — a local nonprofit co-founded by Gurulé and his wife, Elaine — passing out cookies and hot chocolate to families picking up free Christmas toys.
But hometown life wasn’t always so idyllic.
As a young person growing up in an unstable environment that included homelessness and food insecurity, Gurulé found refuge at his high school, accessing free programs and meals throughout the year.
“I used to go in early and stay late because if I hadn’t, I probably would have been freezing or not eating,” said Gurulé. “School was my lifeline.”
Despite gang involvement, Gurulé excelled academically, earning a scholarship to the University of Colorado Denver. Two days after graduating from Rocky Ford High School in May 2004, he left town, determined to escape the “sweet melon capital of the world.”
Then, trouble struck. That October, Gurulé was charged with a violent crime and faced the possibility of spending decades in prison. He thought he had ruined his life. However, he found time for reflection and sources of motivation to get back on track.
The first was Gurulé’s fellow county jail inmates telling him that he’d “really messed up” after having so much going for him. Next was when the judge read support letters from his high school wrestling coach, principal and Spanish teacher at his sentencing. “I cried when I heard those. It was heartbreaking.”
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During his nine-year sentence, Gurulé started preparing for his future, again seeking solace in education. He researched colleges in the prison library and considered many things – tuition costs, financial aid, his interests, job forecasts and the type of work he could do with a felony. All roads led to MSU Denver and the Computer Information Systems degree program.
One year after starting classes in spring 2013, Gurulé had his first help desk position, was married, had a daughter and started a business. MSU Denver’s flexible class schedules helped him balance his responsibilities with completing his degree.
After graduating, Gurulé’s next goal was to buy a house. Unfortunately, the family discovered that only townhomes were available in their desired location and price range, which wouldn’t work having active toddlers. During a trip back to Rocky Ford, Elaine, a real estate agent, had an idea: buy a house there and move back.
“I hadn’t suggested or even thought about it, but the first time she said that I was like, let’s do it,” said Duane. “There was something pulling me back.”
With the flexibility of Gurulé’s remote job as a systems administrator for a finance company, they made their move. They arrived to find a town still reeling from the economic impact of the American Crystal Sugar factory closing in 1978. “It was close to a ghost town,” said Gurulé.
Problem solvers at heart, the Gurulés founded Small Town Project in 2019 to help rebuild the community through economic and workforce development. The nonprofit supports numerous projects, such as a free after-school program, a twice-monthly food share and a boxing club. The experience made stepping into a position on the Rocky Ford City Council in 2021 a natural fit; he advanced to mayor pro tem and was elected mayor in 2023.
When his mayoral term ends later this year, Gurulé plans to run again. A passionate ambassador for the city, he is willing to make the trek to statewide meetings, ensuring Rocky Ford is part of larger conversations. “I believe we have a responsibility to do as much as we can,” said the 2024 MSU Denver Alumni Awards 10 Under 10 award winner. “People are counting on us to make a change, and we’ve seen positive results.”
Now a senior database administrator with Hunger Free Colorado, Gurulé is dedicated to serving the community that helped him survive by providing warmth, food and clothing when there was nowhere else to turn. “This is where I want to invest my knowledge, experience and energy,” he said.
“When I left, I thought, I’m gone from this place — but I found my way back. This is where I needed to be.”
