Dr. Bobby Joe Rankin died on October 13, 2022, at 90 years old. He was a resident of Las Cruces, NM for almost 60 years. Most recently, he lived with the family at his ranch in Abbott, NM, and at the Beehive assisted living home in Raton, NM.
Bobby was born July 5, 1932, in Wills Point, TX to Joe Maxie (JK) and Mattie Lou (Harris) Rankin. He grew up in Wills Point, Texas, during the difficult 1930s, helping on the family farm and working at the service station that his father managed. Friends in those days knew him for his red hair and fun-loving spirit. After graduating from Wills Point High School, he attended Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the rodeo and livestock judging teams. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in Animal Science and a commission in the U.S. Army Reserve. After training at the Infantry Basic Officer school, and the Airborne and Ranger schools, he was stationed in Germany. He continued his military career as commander of a reserve U.S. Special Forces unit in Stillwater, OK and in Las Cruces, NM until 1965.
In 1957, Bobby enrolled in graduate school at Oklahoma State University, where he earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Science. At OSU, Bobby also met his wife of 58 years. He married Margie Ann Bond, daughter of Damon Upton and Marie Elizabeth Bond on September 5, 1959.
Dr. Rankin joined New Mexico State University in 1961 and traveled the state as an Extension Livestock Specialist, focusing on the genetic improvement of beef cattle. He helped improve productivity and marketability in the ranching industry with his central bull-testing and ranch-to-rail programs. He then enjoyed a 20-year teaching career, mentoring students in NMSU’s Animal and Range Sciences department, before serving as the Department Head until his retirement in 2000. During his time at NMSU, he actively sponsored the livestock judging and rodeo teams. He helped establish New Mexico’s 4-H horse program and initiated a campus horse program that led to Quarter Horse breeding, hands-on horse training, and intercollegiate competitions. He was instrumental in establishing the Corona Research Ranch in central New Mexico. Fluent in Spanish, he served as a college adviser to a USAID project in Paraguay and founding teacher for the graduate program in Animal Science at the University of Chihuahua. He also worked in Belize, Algeria, and The Gambia, and regularly advised international Ph.D. students.
In addition to the work that he loved, Bob loved his community. For over 40 years, he was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Las Cruces, serving as deacon, teacher, and elder at various times. Bob was a member and officer of the Rotary Club of Las Cruces for many years, as well as the New Mexico Cattle Growers, Farm Bureau, and NMSU Foundation.
Bob was blessed with a strong faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ from whom he received wisdom, strength, and guidance throughout his life. He was a man of great integrity. He especially loved and served us – his family and his friends, and we couldn’t have dreamed anyone could do it better.
Bob is survived by: daughters, Trina Davis (husband, Bruce) of Springer, NM, and Amy Rankin (husband, Doug Pickett) of Taos, NM; two grandsons, Benjamin Rankin (wife, Rachel) Davis, and John Damon Davis, and dear friends and family who shared this life journey with him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his two sisters, Lue Jean Beck and Elizabeth Charlyne Sledge.
A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am, October 21, 2022, at the Springer Methodist Church. Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home in Raton is assisting with arrangements. Should anyone like to make a memorial donation, Bobby requested they be made to NMSU Foundation – Bobby Rankin Judging Team Endowed Fund (PO Box 3590, Las Cruces NM 88005), First Presbyterian Church of Las Cruces (200 E. Boutz Rd, Las Cruces 88005), The Ranches (NM Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation – theranches.org), or Cattlegrowers Foundation, Inc. (cattlegrowersfoundation.org).
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