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James (Jim) Blodgett Sr.

07/17/1940

Jim Blodgett was born the youngest son of Harry L. and Rose (Gratz) Blodgett at the old Thorton Hospital in Missoula Montana on July 17th, 1940. The Blodgett family including siblings Dolores and Harry L. Jr. (Bud) relocated to Deer Lodge Montana early in 1941. Father Harry was originally employed at the Anaconda Mining Co. and served during the early part of the WWII as a Civilian Military Policeman in security for the critical Copper Mining industry in Anaconda Montana. Jim attended school at the Catholic St. Mary's Academy, O.D. Speer Elementary, Deer Lodge Jr. High and Graduated in 1958 from Powell County High School. On July 7th 1958, directly after graduation, Jim joined the U.S. Navy with several of his school friends and went through boot camp in San Diego California. After boot camp his first assignment was at Brown's Field Naval Air Station near Chula Vista, California. After a short assignment he was transferred to attend Aviation Electronics Technician school in Millington Tennessee near Memphis. After Graduation Jim was assigned to Antisubmarine Squadron VS32 at Naval Air Station Quonset Point Rhode Island. While assigned to VS32 Jim served primarily as a Radar and Sonar operator/crew member on the Grumman S2F Anti-Submarine Aircraft. VS32 was attached to the Atlantic fleet and the WWII era Aircraft Carrier Lake Champlain CVS39. Jim's assignment to the carrier involved numerous missions, carrier deck landings & takeoffs and in 1961 he participated as part of the recovery crew for Alan Shepards historic space flight. He was discharged in late 1961 and returned to his home town of Deer Lodge Montana.

On June 20, 1962 he married Janie Mae Weber from Missoula Montana and to date have they have enjoyed a long and happy 51 year marriage. Two sons were born to the couple; James Gary Jr. and Jeffrey Allen. After several short term jobs as a Manager of a Drive-in Restaurant, Railroad conductor and Sawmill laborer, Jim began a near 40 year career in Prison security and administration. He was first employed in 1963 as a Correctional Officer at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge following his fathers footsteps. Promotion came very rapidly for Jim and within 5 short years he went through the Ranks of Sergeant, Shift Lieutenant and Captain of the Guards. In 1968, at only 28 years of age, Jim became the youngest Deputy Warden in the history of the Montana Prison, a position he held for 12 years. In 1980 Jim interviewed for the Position of Warden after having served as Acting Warden for several months. As is common in prison systems there was a major change in politics in the state and Jim decided it was time to take his career in other areas of opportunity. In 1984 Jim found that opportunity when hired as an Associate Superintendent at the infamous and troubled Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla.