Page 85 - NM Summer 2023

Obituaries and photos provided by NMHBA
Dr. Scot Martin, the current owner of Hansford Veterinarian Clinic in Spearman, Texas, is one of the many people that will say that Dr. Blodgett had a profound impact on
his life, saying he was always ready to listen and give a gentle nudge “At every crossroad in my career I consulted him, and I did everything
he advised me. If asked how I would describe Dr. Blodgett to a total stranger, I would say he loved others and loved God like no other human that I ever knew. He was so patient, beyond reproof. He was as close to living all of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – as anyone I have ever known. It was not something he worked on, it came pretty naturally, he was born into it.”
Dr. Blodgett’s professional contributions were immense. His commitment to the betterment of the American Quarter Horse breed and his steadfast involvement dates back to 1991 when he began his service as a Texas Director of American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). From there, he served as chairman of the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee, AQHA Hall of Fame Selection Committee, AQHA Executive Committee, and AQHA Executive President. He served on the American Association
of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Board of Directors, Racing Ethics and Ethics Ad Hoc Committees. He was appointed to the first Texas Horse Racing Commission. In addition, he was an active member of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association (TEVA), the Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA), the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA), the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and the Ranching Heritage Association.
Over his lifetime he had been recognized
by numerous organizations including the
AAEP Distinguished Life Membership Award; TVMA Equine Practitioner of the Year; AQHA Register of Merit Award; Association of Racing Commissioners International’s Joan Pew Award for racing commissioner of the year; OSU Graduate of Distinction in Animal Science; Outstanding TAMU Alumni; AQHA Racing Council Special Recognition Award; National Ranching Heritage Center Golden Spur Award; and was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame, Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
He was honored with an adjunct professorship in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and taught at Texas Tech University as an adjunct graduate faculty member. In addition, he mentored hundreds, if not thousands, of senior veterinary students from throughout the country and abroad at the 6666 Ranch.
He was a part of Alpha Gamma Rho at OSU, a fraternity dedicated to upholding high morals and standards while “making better men.” This foundation of friends was very important to him.
His commitment to community service
and philanthropy were an important role in
Dr. Blodgett’s life. He served on the Guthrie Common School District as a board member for 24 years, was a member of the advisory board for Tarleton State University in Stephenville, served as chairman of the King County Tax Appraisal Board, Vice President of King County EMS and was an active supporter of the 4-H and FFA.
Dr. Blodgett was preceded in death by his parents, Helen Johanne and Clarence Ralph Blodgett and his faithful employer and friend for 40 years, Anne Marion.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 53 years Karen Blodgett: daughters, Buffie Guynes and Brandie Blodgett Mustian and husband Mike; grandchildren, Claire Guynes, Rebecca Guynes, Catherine Guynes, Myla Mustian and Maddox Mustian; sister, Marilyn Cline; brother-in-law, Ronnie Wright and wife Lelia; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.
A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, December 21, place and time to be determined.
The Blodgett family has designated several charities for memorials, including the Dr. Glenn Blodgett Equine Research Endowment at the American Quarter Horse Foundation.
relation), and they would ultimately share a married life together for 63 years.
In 1959, Harold and Joyce loaded up a Chevy coupe and a small tow trailer with every possession they owned and left the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the opportunities offered by a growing Albuquerque. Upon arriving, Harold found work as a carpenter, and not long after, Joyce attended pharmacy school at the University of New Mexico. Their new life in New Mexico began to take off.
Harold, along with his brother, Donald, formed Erickson Construction in 1962. Together, they built single-family homes, hotels, motels, office buildings, and large apartment complexes across New Mexico and much of the Southwest. They were famous in the construction industry for their innovative ability to construct projects in record times, even being recruited back to Michigan to build a large complex in the Detroit area. Their success in construction ultimately
led them to begin building several apartment complexes of their own in the Albuquerque area, which they owned and managed for decades.
Harold loved and supported the New Mexico Lobos for over 57 years, and only rarely did he miss a game. His love for the game
of basketball extended beyond the Lobos, as
he attended many NCAA playoffs and Final Fours. He was also an avid horseman, owning and breeding many racehorses that competed across the country. He enjoyed a good, heated conversation about politics and loved spending many mornings with close friends at the local truck stop for coffee. He was not averse to giving those friends a good ribbing. He was a man of the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and camping. He loved to travel and did so all over the world, and best enjoyed trips which he and Joyce shared with their grandchildren.
Harold was known for his generosity and practicality. He once caught some burglars
one late night, who had broken into a day care center which he owned. Among other things, they were stealing food. So, Harold grabbed a box, packed them some food and sent them on their way. Asked why he would do such a thing - give food to people who were robbing him - he replied simply, “Because they were hungry.”
Harold was preceded in death by his parents; his six brothers, Raymond in infancy, Donald, David, twins Ray and Roy, and Bryon; a grandson, Adam Jaeger; and also his mother-
and father-in-law, Edwin and Laura Erickson,
of Ironwood Township. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; son, Dale (Kim); daughters, Christine (Todd) Jaeger and Denise; grandchildren, Ashley Jaeger, Elisabeth (Erickson) Shows, Sarah Jaeger, Alex Erickson and Joshua Jaeger; and one great- grandchild, Isabella Shows.
He was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque on November 29, 2022.
Harold Erickson
Harold Erickson, cherished husband, father, and grandfather passed away on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. He would have been 83 in just one month.
Harold was born in Bessemer, Michigan, on Sunday, Dec. 24, 1939, the fourth
of seven sons born to Walter and Viola (Jacobson) Erickson. He graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer in 1958 and began the hard work of logging and roofing in the local area. On Saturday, April 11, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce (Erickson, no prior
IN MEMORIAM
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