August 25, 2008, The American Quarter Horse Journal -- Former AQHA Executive Vice President Ronald Blackwell, 75, of Amarillo died August 22.
Blackwell was born February 15, 1933 in Lexington, Oklahoma. He grew up in Lexington, working on the family farm and graduating from Lexington High School. While attending Oklahoma State University, he worked at the movie theater. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree at OSU, he worked for the Poland China Association in Chicago. He was drafted and served in the United States Army for two years before returning to work in Forth Worth for the Texas Angus Association. While there, he met and married Carolyn Crawford on January 17, 1959. They had four children.
Blackwell joined the AQHA staff in September 1969 as Coordinator of Public Information. Later he became Director of Public Relations, and then combined that with the job of Assistant to the Executive Secretary. In July 1976 he was named Executive Secretary, which later became Executive Vice President, and he remained in that position until 1992, when he retired.
He was a member of Lifeway Fellowship Baptist Church. He was a past director of the Tri-State Fair and member and avid golfer at Amarillo Country Club.
Blackwell was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Carl, Stewart and John; and his father-in-law, Clyde Crawford.
He is survived by wife, Carolyn; two sons, Scott and Stacy Blackwell of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Steve Blackwell of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two daughters, Stacy and Joe Mondt of Andover, Kansas; Shanda and Chris Hurt of Little Elm; his mother-in-law, Dorotha Crawford; and eight grandchildren, Haley, Claire and Ella Blackwell, Mark, Mercy and Micah Mondt and Chandler and Brooklyn Hurt.
Memorials may be sent to Olivia’s Angels, BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79105; America’s Horse Cares, 2601 E. Interstate 40, Amarillo, Texas 79104; Building Fund, Lifeway Fellowship Baptist church, 3315 Hancock St., Amarillo, Texas 79106.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Services will be Tuesday, August 26 at 2:00 p.m. in Lifeway Fellowship Baptist Church, Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia Street.
