Page 105 - NM Spring 2019

IN MEMORIAM
KIM AHLBOM
July 25, 1956 - January 4, 2019
Kim Cleve Ahlbom born July 25, 1956 passed away in her home January 4, 2019. A kind, loving mother, sister, friend and aunt. Kim is survived
by daughters Elka and husband Clay Menuey, Brittnee and husband Jared
Marquez, 4 grandchildren, a brother, a sister, 4 nephews and one niece.
Kim was a very special friend of the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association. She helped out whenever she was needed. She worked
the Annual Meeting and Awards Banquets for many years and was always available to help stuff envelopes and even filled in when a staff member was on maternity leave. Kim is preced- ed in death by her husband Dwight J. Ahlbom.
We will miss you Kim!
VIRGIL (VJ) CALLAWAY JR August 8, 1925 – January 14, 2019
Virgil Jr (VJ) Callaway went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on January 14, 2019. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Jackie Leon Callaway, Bonnie Callaway, his brothers Jack, Ralph & Don
Callaway, and his sister and brother-in-law Roy & Betty Callaway.
He was survived by his daughters and sons-in- law, Troy & Patty Robinson and Steve & Donna Cox, all of Hobbs; his grandchildren, Kevin Robinson of Hobbs, Kim Davis of Fort Worth, Texas, Zakary Burton of Hobbs, and Zan Reeder of Hobbs and their spouses; 8 great-grandchil- dren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, his sister-in-law Betty Callaway of California, Manuel & Louisa Munoz & their children and grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
VJ was also survived by his companion, Geri Shipler, her two sons, Terry and Jamey Shipler and two daughters, Martha Kay Jones and Brenda Flinn, and their spouses and children and grandchildren.
VJ Callaway was born August 8, 1925 in Walters, Oklahoma. He served in the US Army as a combat infantryman from Aug.1944 to Dec.1945. He started his young life as a farmer
in Duncan, Oklahoma where he also built
his first home, which sparked the beginning
of many years in construction. He started his construction company, Callaway Construction, in 1959 after moving to Hobbs, New Mexico in 1957 and opened his first lumber yard in 1963, where it quickly became known that his word was GOLD and his handshake was ALL a person needed.
He started Callaway Farms in 1971 and was voted New Mexico’s outstanding breeder many times throughout his life. He is known for bringing three of the most prominent studs to ever hit the state of New Mexico. He was also a valued member of NMHBA.
There is no way to measure the impact VJ Callaway has had on the state of New Mexico, as well as the city of Hobbs. His legacy will always be remembered
JERRY “NIC” NICODEMUS September 6, 1945 - January 30, 2019 Courtesy Ruidoso Downs
Jerry “Nic” Nicodemus,
considered
one of Quarter Horse racing’s greatest jockeys of all time, died Jan. 30 at his residence in Ruidoso. He was 73 years old.
“He was a great friend to so many people within the racing industry and
we are all shocked and saddened by his pass- ing,” Ruidoso Downs President and General Manager Jeff True said. “His accomplishments on the race track are legendary, and the humble way he approached his success will always be remembered. Truly a Quarter Horse legend.”
Ruidoso and AQHA Hall of Fame jockey Nicodemus won three All American Futurities with Three Oh’s in 1968, Rocket Wrangler in 1970, and Ronas Ryon in 1986. He won four Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in California; twice with Dash for Cash in 1976 and 1977, Lady Juno in 1980, and Denim N Diamonds in 1981.
In 6,317 career races, Nicodemus won 1,252 for a winning percentage of nearly 20 percent with lifetime earnings of $18,888,775. He retired in 1993, and worked for many years as a New Mexico racing steward. He was a member of the All American Ruidoso Downs Founda- tion Board of Directors, the race track’s chari- table organization that provides scholarships for young people within the racing industry.
Nicodemus and Dash For Cash are histori- cally linked and are commemorated outside the American Quarter Horse Association headquar-
ters with a life-size bronze sculpture which sig- nifies their status. Dash for Cash won 21 races in 25 lifetime starts with $507,687 in earnings. Dash for Cash was named World Champion twice, and his bloodline is still very prominent in today’s Quarter Horse runners.
“It is clear that ‘Nic’ had the unique ability to bring out the most in those horses when they were in competition. He will be known for his special role in the history of our sport, and he will be missed tremendously by his Ruidoso Downs family,” True said.
HENRY "BUTCH" SOUTHWAY August 18, 1941 - March 7, 2019
Henry “Butch” Southway, 77, passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at El Paso TX. He was born in Littleton, CO on August 18, 1941. He moved with his par- ents and sister to the San Luis Valley when he was 5 years old. Though he started school at San Acacio, the family moved to
Blanca for his second grade. He graduated from Sierra Grande High School in 1959. He married Izora Hardy on December 30, 1966.
Butch worked with his father for some years prior to starting SouthwayConstruction in 1974, a company still in operation. He was a man with a strong work ethic and vision. He retired somewhat from heavy equipment contracting and rock crush- ing in 1998 when he and Izora moved to Sunland Park, NM to spend winters enjoying their horse farm and race horses.
He has been a Stockholder and Board Member of Alamosa State Bank since 1988. He is a lifetime member of the Alamosa Elks. In the Masonic Lodge of Alamosa, he is a Past Master and Thirty- second degree Mason. Also, a member of the Sand Dune Shrine Club and Al Kaly Shriners.
Butch is survived by his wife Izora and two sons, Rocky and Clay Southway, and three grandchildren - Dustin, Nicole and Sandy as well as his sister Joanne Clayton and other cousins. His parents, Henry and Elaine Southway, pre- ceded him in death.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 10 A.M. at the LDS Church Stake Center at 927 Weber Drive in Alamosa. Visitation at the Rogers Mortuary will be on Friday, March 15 from 4 to 8 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, contributions for a Butch Southway Memorial Scholarship to Adams State University may be sent Alamosa State Bank, 2225 Main St., P.O. Box 1098, Alamosa, CO 81101. Checks should be made to ASU Foundation.
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