Gary Blodgett

{{Short description|American politician (1937–2021)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Gary Blodgett

| image = Gary Blodgett.jpg

| office = Administrative Law Judge at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

| term_start = 2001

| term_end = 2008

| office2 = Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 19th district

| term_start2 = January 11, 1993

| term_end2 = January 7, 2001

| predecessor2 = Merlin Bartz

| successor2 = Roger Broers

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|10|17}}

| birth_place = Pleasantville, Iowa, United States

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|5|19|1937|10|27}}

| death_place = Mason City, Iowa

| party = Republican

| occupation = Orthodontist

| spouse = Sandra J. Hodgson

| children = 3, including Todd

| relations =

| alma_mater = University of Iowa

}}

Gary B. Blodgett (October 17, 1937 – May 19, 2021) was an American politician in the state of Iowa.

Blodgett was born in Pleasantville, Iowa, and attended the University of Iowa. He was elected in 1992 to represent Cerro Gordo county in the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served as Deputy Majority Leader from 1993 to 2001 (19th district).{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=909|title=State Representative|author=Iowa Legislative Services Agency|publisher=|accessdate=16 October 2015}}

He represented Iowa's 19th district, serving as Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee and on the Rules, Transportation and Human Resources Committees.{{cite web |url= http://northiowatoday.com/2014/07/11/dr-and-mrs-gary-blodgett-to-host-cruise-with-gov-branstad-july-18th-on-clear-lake |title= Dr and Mrs. Blodgett To Host Cruise With Gov Branstad July 18th on Clear Lake|accessdate=14 November 2017}}

Blodgett served in the U.S. Public Health Service from 1962 to 1965, and practiced orthodontistry in Mason City, Iowa, from 1967 to 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=909|title=State Representative|author=Iowa Legislative Services Agency|publisher=|accessdate=17 November 2017}} He was a former President of the Iowa Society of Orthodontists, in office from 1970 to 1972.{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=909|title=State Representative|author=Iowa Legislative Services Agency|publisher=|accessdate=17 November 2017}}

While practicing orthodontics, Dr. Blodgett chaired membership drives and fundraising campaigns for the YMCA, the United Way, the March of Dimes and numerous other charities in Cerro Gordo county.{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=909|title=State Representative|author=Iowa Legislative Services Agency|publisher=|accessdate=17 November 2017}}

Beginning in 1976, when he raised money for then-President Gerald Ford's campaign, Blodgett had been a leading Iowa Republican fundraiser.{{cite web|url=https://northiowatoday.com/2014/04/04/callanan-campaign-raises-thousands-of-dollars-with-help-of-dr-gary-blodgett/|title= Callanan Campaign Raises Thousands of Dollars With Help of Dr Gary Blodgett|author=|publisher=Global Gazette|accessdate=17 November 2017}} In his first race as a candidate, he outspent his Democratic opponent by a nearly 30-to-one margin.{{cite web|url=https://northiowatoday.com/2014/04/04/callanan-campaign-raises-thousands-of-dollars-with-help-of-dr-gary-blodgett/|title= Callanan Campaign Raises Thousands of Dollars With Help of Dr Gary Blodgett|author=|publisher=Global Gazette|accessdate=17 November 2017}} In 1956, Blodgett married Sandra 'Sandy' J. Hodgson and had three children with her.{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=909|title=State Representative|author=Iowa Legislative Services Agency|publisher=|accessdate=17 November 2017}} One of his sons is conservative political writer Todd Blodgett, who served on the White House staff during the Reagan-Bush years and later worked for the FBI.

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Blodgett to the position of Administrative Law Judge with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. In this position, Judge Blodgett adjudicated legal cases involving Medicare and Medicaid, hospital corporations, HMOs, and pharmaceutical providers until 2008 in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=909|title=State Representative|author=Iowa Legislative Services Agency|publisher=|accessdate=17 November 2017}} Blodgett was an advisor to every Republican President from Gerald R. Ford to George W. Bush.

In Oct., 2007, he was named the 'Distinguished Alumnus of the Year' by the University of Iowa.{{cite web|url=http://globegazette.com/business/names-news-in-business/article_4df7ceec-193e-5b8f-8a92-cf34c4194c34.html|title= Names News in Business|author=|publisher=Global Gazette|accessdate=17 November 2017}}

He died of Alzheimer's disease on May 19, 2021, in Mason City, Iowa, at age 83.{{cite web|url=https://globegazette.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/former-state-rep-presidential-appointee-gary-blodgett-dies-at-83/article_e46ae31a-c18b-517b-9f3e-6919444f5b69.html |title=Former state rep, presidential appointee Gary Blodgett dies at 83 |publisher=Globegazette.com |date=2021-05-19 |accessdate=2021-05-20}}