Gary J. Blackburn the father of Nola, Gary S. and Tim Blackburn was inducted to the Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame July 7, 2018 at Union Station in Ogden, Utah.

   He was one of seven inductees honored and was the only Rancher Cowboy, the other inductees were Rodeo Professionals and two were Horse Trainers. Dad was the “Real Deal,” a Cowboy and Rancher of the highest quality, his sterling character, charisma, colorful witty personality plus leadership skills left a legacy his family is proud of and strive to emulate.

   Dad began his Cowboying at the age of seven, often staying with a cousin and his uncles helping herd cattle and sheep, plus train race horses in Emery and Carbon counties. He raced horses at the age of nine in local celebrations riding bareback. He was involved in 4-H and had a Champion steer. He began breaking horses and mules at the age of twelve, demonstrating excellent horsemanship ability.

   Dad rodeoed, riding saddle broncs, roping calves, even participated in potato races and barrel racing, he was a tough competitor, other contestants enjoyed competing against him knowing that if they beat him at an event that they truly had done a great job! Dad was involved in developing rodeo clubs in Emery and Carbon counties. He helped build the first arena in Sunnyside with his father Alton Blackburn, cousin George Ferguson and other associates.

   Dad married RaNae Swenson, the love of his life on September 12, 1948. He stopped riding saddle broncs after marrying and having children, but rodeoed for many years at community rodeos, roping calves. He provided stock and organized events for many years at local rodeos.

   During the early years of his marriage he worked the coal mines and coke ovens in Carbon County, then in 1958 he moved his family to the Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch in Woodruff, Utah to work as a Cowboy, became cow boss in a couple of years then became Ranch Manager in the Fall of 1970. The Deseret Land & Livestock Ranch at this time was one of the largest ranches in the United States. Dad’s knowledge and skills were recognized by ranch owners, and local people said he was one of the best Cowmen in the area.

   The Deseret Ranch was sold in 1975, and in the spring of 1976 he began working as manager for Skull Valley Ranch, which consisted of thirty thousand acres with three thousand head of cattle and National Forest permits on the Stansbury Range. He retired from that position in 1993 to run his own cattle operation.

   He sold his cattle in 2003 to care for mom, who was experiencing increasing health problems.

   Dad was a compassionate man, he took out personal loans to help people in need, opened his home for shelter and meals for folks down on their luck and needing a hand. He and mom were so generous and loving, they were both the “Salt Of The Earth” people, loved and respected by many, many, people.

   Three of the inductees were deceased, this number included Dad, who died December 3, 2014 at the age of eighty-six. The legacy he left, lives on in many people’s lives, especially in his family. The cherished memories are golden.