Conrad Huntington

CW Huntington (Connie) passed at his home near Red Mesa on February 17, 2016 surrounded by family. He was born in Durango, CO on May 5, 1926 to Len and Emma Huntington. Con attended Durango High School and joined the Army Airborne 303rd in 1944. He was a paratrooper in the Philipines and later in Japan. After his honorable discharge as Sergeant in July, 1950 he attended Fort Lewis A & M before marrying Patricia Joan McNamara in November, 1950. One son & three daughters were born to this union.

Connie was a life long rancher. As an independent and innovative thinker, he was proactive in both his cattle and farming activities. He was a founding member of the Four Corners Beef Cattle Improvement Association, developing performance evaluations of breeding seed stock. He was an active participant in the Four Corners Bull test, the Great Western Beef Expo, Northeast Colorado Bull test and the Midland Montana Bull test. He was a member of the Red Angus Association of America and the American Hereford Association. Connie worked with the members of the LaPlata County fairboard, including his brother Lawrence, to establish a rate of gain and carcass contest for the 4-H market beef projects at the LaPlata county fair.

Connie was constantly working to improve the production and efficiency of the ranch, putting in sprinklers on the fields, chaining, burning and seeding forested land, developing habitat for both wildlife and cattle. He was named Conservationist of the Year in LaPlata county, being recognized for his work on the land.
Connie was an enthusiastic breeder of performance horses, continuing to breed and raise horses up until his death. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the American Paint Horse Association. As an avid horseman, he competed in everything from calf roping to cowboy polo. He passed his passion for competition and horses onto his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Con was preceded in death by wife Pat; brothers Lawrence & Dick; and son-in-law Vern Riddle. He is survived by sister Francis Hotter; children Randy (Kelly) Bader, Sandy (R.T.) McElreath, Joaquin (Santha) Huntington, and Connie Jo Riddle ; 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces & nephews.

A Recitation of the Rosary will be held at St. Columba Catholic Church 2/29/2016 at 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 3/1/2016 at 10AM at St Columba, followed by internment at Greenmount Cemetery. A reception lunch will be provided at Marvel Grange Hall at 2PM. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the LaPlata-Archuleta Cattlemens Memorial scholarship fund, PO Box 2524, Durango, Colo, 81302 in remembrance of C.W. Huntington.