Jack Leo Ruttle

Jack Leo Ruttle died peacefully in his home on his 91st birthday on August 1st, 2022. Jack and his twin sister, Sally, were born in Taylor, Texas on August 1, 1931, to Leon Leo and Minnie Ruttle. Jack started his love of animal science and agriculture on a farm in Taylor that his father managed. He started first grade in Waco, Texas and graduated from San Angelo High School. At Sul Ross State University, Jack earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry. Jack was a member of the rodeo team and rode bulls, he was instrumental in the founding of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and published its first newsletter, The Rigging. Jack enlisted in the Army in 1953 as no one would hire him because of the draft. He started as an infantryman but when the Korean War ended, he trained as a Medic. Corporal Jack L. Ruttle was honorably discharged in February 1955 and enrolled in New Mexico A & M to pursue a master's in Animal Husbandry. There he met the love of his life in an Organic Chemistry class. Jack and Mary Carlene Miller were married in June of 1956. After receiving his Masters, Jack started with the USDA as a sheep specialist in Fort Wingate, NM. He returned to New Mexico State University in the Extension Service where he traveled throughout the southwest to advise ranchers on sheep and wool production. With the promise of a professorship at NMSU, Jack moved Carlene and three kids to College Station, Texas to pursue a Ph.D. at Texas, A & M. He supported the family as a teaching assistant and "shepherd" of the college sheep center. In January 1964, with Carlene and four kids, Jack returned to NMSU as a professor in sheep and wool production. He would go on to establish classes in Reproductive Physiology, Physiology Techniques and Animal Surgery at NMSU. In addition to his teaching and research activities, Jack advised 70 graduate students, bringing many of them home to Carlene and five kids for a good home-cooked meal. During his time at NMSU, Jack had the opportunity to consult internationally and worked in beautiful countries such as Mexico, Paraguay, Guatemala, Morocco and Argentina. He retained many life-long friendships through his travels and work. Jack retired from NMSU in 1990 to farm in Deming, NM with his sons. He sold Red Mountain Livestock in 2000 but continued to put on his popular artificial insemination and pregnancy testing seminars. Jack's love of flying came about when he took an introductory lesson to learn how to land a plane. He often flew with ranchers and was concerned what he would do if something happened to one of them. That first lesson led him to obtain his private pilot license and to a lifetime of flying with ownership of several planes. Jack was also a talented artist dabbling in oils, inks and sculpture, as well as the occasional funny rodeo cartoon. Jack will be dearly missed by his bride of 66 years, Carlene, children Leslie (Tim), John, Jim (Denise), Jeff (Sandy), Karen (Russell), Ten grandchildren Alex, Quinten (Kristy), Owen, Sidney (Cody), Shelby (Marc), Kailene, Lucas, Carson, Bonnie, Jaden and eight great-grandchildren.

Jack was predeceased by his parents Leon and Minnie, his older sisters Joyce and Jane, and his twin sister JoAnne (AKA Sally).

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on August 19th, 2022, at the Basilica of San Albino, Mesilla, New Mexico located on the Mesilla Plaza, corner of Calle Principal and Santiago.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack L. Ruttle Endowed Scholarship fund at New Mexico State University or Mesilla Valley Hospice. Special thanks to Ms. Shelley Cruz-Solano for the special care given to Jack during his last days.