Fort Collins Resident Recovered Lost Wedding Ring

Greg Secord used his metal detector to retrieve a gold ring from the Poudre River for a local man.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Awards

Bold vector illustration of a metal detector head submerged in a shallow, sandy riverbed, revealing a small glint of gold.
Fort Collins resident Greg Secord successfully retrieved a lost gold wedding ring from the Poudre River for a local man on September 6. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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On September 6, Greg Secord successfully retrieved a gold wedding ring that Andrew Vasko lost in the Poudre River. Secord located the item within minutes of beginning his search at the site.

Why it matters

Secord performs these recoveries to help residents reunite with their lost belongings. He typically accepts donations for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in exchange for his services.

The 75-year-old metal detectorist has recovered 113 rings over his 20-year hobby career. He currently uses a Minelab Equinox 800 for his search operations.

The players

Greg Secord

He is a 75-year-old Vietnam War veteran and metal detectorist based in Fort Collins.

Andrew Vasko

He is the individual who lost his gold wedding ring in the Poudre River.

The Ring Finders

This is an international organization of metal detectorists that Secord joined in 2017.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

This organization receives donations from Secord in lieu of a standard call-out fee.

The details

Secord identifies materials by analyzing varying signal numbers and burial depth indicators on his equipment. He searches high-traffic sandy areas, having previously performed work in sites like Boyd Lake and Livermore.

Timeline

  1. 2006: Greg Secord began his metal detecting hobby.

  2. 2017: Secord joined the organization The Ring Finders.

  3. September 6: Andrew Vasko lost his wedding ring in the river.

  4. Mid-September 2026: Secord discussed his career with the Coloradoan.

Culture Shift

This story follows the community-based service pattern established by the volunteer recovery network managed by The Ring Finders. It highlights a growing trend of utilizing niche hobbyist expertise to solve minor personal crises for local residents.

Residents who lose valuable items in the area may contact experienced operators to aid in the recovery process. Utilizing such services can help recover sentimental property that would otherwise be permanently lost in river sediment.

The takeaway

Metal detecting requires both specialized equipment and patience to successfully locate items in difficult terrain. Hobbyists suggest that those who lose valuables should mark the area immediately to increase the likelihood of a successful search.

Further reading

Find more community highlights in the Awards section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Coloradoan.

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Would you trust a hobbyist to recover a highly valuable or sentimental lost item?