Event held in Mason City in remembrance of Dr. Gary B. Blodgett (1937-2021)

By Matt Marquardt, Editor/Publisher of NorthIowaToday.com

On May 19, Dr. Gary Blodgett died, after suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Having known Gary before he was incapacitated, I’m dedicating this column to honor his life and accomplishments and remind readers of the good man we lost. Among approximately 450 others, I attended the Celebration of Life for Gary that his family hosted in late July, at Mason City’s Historic Park Inn. For two and a half hours, people from all walks of life reminisced about the man who had been their friend, and/or represented them, or otherwise positively impacted their lives and those of others. Like many north Iowans, I grew up knowing that Dr. Blodgett was a well-regarded professional and highly respected community leader long before he was elected in 1992. He was a Little League Baseball coach, and active in the Boy Scouts, the United Way, and numerous other civic organizations in Mason City and Clear Lake. He also was a longtime trustee of the Bertha Stebens Charitable Foundation, serving as its President for many years.

I was a student at the University of Iowa when he represented Cerro Gordo county, and I recall being shocked that Mason City had, by an overwhelming margin (64%), voted for Gary – an extremely conservative Republican – over a well-known Democratic attorney. ‘Doc B’ never lost an election for public office. I didn’t always agree with Gary’s positions, but appreciated that he always made his views as clear as they could be. Nobody ever had any doubts about how Gary Blodgett felt about any issue.

Lots of politicians are mostly out for themselves, and they want to gain power to “be” somebody, raise their status, line their pockets, hang out with important people, and other selfish reasons. Blodgett wasn’t this way. For decades before becoming a Legislator, he was an amazingly successful, wealthy orthodontist and businessman, who could have retired and lived the good life anywhere he wanted. He owned two homes on Clear Lake and had traveled the world. Instead, he made his impact in the rough world of politics and government, on the state and federal levels. As his son, Todd Blodgett, said: “Being a candidate was a major change for my Dad. Before running for office, his entire career consisted of people coming to see him. But as a candidate, he had to seek out the voters – for their approval!”

Another point: Unlike many elected officials, Dr. Blodgett already WAS somebody long before taking office. He didn’t get into government service for the perks. This multimillionaire already had achieved substantial success in big ways and did not need to hold public office to feel good about himself. Gary served to participate in what he thought was right, opposing tax increases and what he considered to be wasteful spending proposals, and tried to shrink the size and scope of government.

President George W. Bush appointed Blodgett to the position of federal administrative Judge, where, in Washington, D.C., he adjudicated legal cases relating to health care policy for the US Department of Health and Human Services. As a lawmaker, presidential appointee and boards on which he served as a director, Dr. Blodgett brought his renowned expertise, diligence, and integrity to those positions. The Celebration of Life honoring him at the Park Inn was like a ‘Who’s Who’ of north Iowa, but many of the attendees represented all walks of life. Democrats also were there, including former state Rep. Mark Kuhn of Charles city, and other retired Legislators. Two of the esteemed speakers at this event, Mark McManigal and ex-county Supervisor Jay Urdahl, are not Republicans.

Jim Burgess of Mason City said, “Gary was a real good guy who cared about the people. Him and Sandy have been great friends to me and my family for 45-plus years. He was a cool, very generous dude that never acted important, even though he sure was.”
Most north Iowans aren’t on a first-name basis with Presidents, US Senators, Governors, members of Congress, Ambassadors, etc., as Gary Blodgett was. Yet, whenever I was around this man, or spoke with him on the phone, he focused strictly on me. He was always accessible, up front, truthful, and willing to talk with anyone, regardless of their views. He could disagree without being disagreeable, and was a true gentleman of the Old School. It would sure be nice if all public servants were up to the remarkably high standard of Dr. Gary Blodgett. He definitely raised the bar. May he rest in peace.