Jesse Blackwelder Jr.

Jesse Cleveland Blackwelder, Jr. passed away on April 8, 2025. We are quite certain that he is already giving golf lessons in heaven. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Carole Blackwelder, his daughter Melissa (“Missy”) Blackwelder-Juarez of Lubbock/Los Angeles, his son Jesse Bart (“JB”) Blackwelder of Cleveland, his youngest daughter Jennifer (“Jenni”) Ford of Atlanta; his grandchildren Ashley, Dylan, Joshua, Jacob and Nicole; his great-grandchildren Alex, Joshua, and Adam; his sister Mary Goldin; his sister-in-law Mariann Blackwelder; and many of his children and grandchildren’s spouses, Roland, Sherri, Russ, Matt, Ethan, Caroline, and Gabbrielle along with several of his nieces, nephews, cousins – Regina Duran, Chelsea Hobbs, Hannah Fehoko, April Jilek, Travis Sturdivant, and John Holloway plus his dearest friends. Jesse would like to acknowledge all the players who were able to come to the funeral that he coached throughout all the years, and he said, “you would know who you are and what you meant to me.”

Jesse grew up in Wink, Texas where he was a multi-sport athlete in high school, a musician who played a trumpet solo at the Cotton Bowl when he was in the fourth grade, and who played with Roy Orbison and his band in high school. He was also all district in football, and all region in basketball. Wink is also where he found his life-long passion of golf. An oil executive not only asked Jesse to caddy for him but also ensured him he would become a member of the Country Club and was able to play golf there. He played on his golf team that won three consecutive state high school championships. An interesting fact about Jesse is that he was ambidextrous (played golf with his right hand but wrote with his left) and he was color blind. Even with a variety of challenges and obstacles, it never stopped him from moving forward in his life. Jesse was a very focused and motivated person.

Jesse graduated from the University of Texas, El Paso. There he met the love of his life, Carole, in 1964 at UTEP. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married in 1965. Carole went on to be a successful elementary teacher for 30+ years. Then Jesse also became an educator, including at the New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) where he was a professor of education, psychology, and reading. He taught there for 22 years. He was ultimately named a Professor Emeritus. He never, however, abandoned his passion for golf. At the same time, he was a professor at the NMJC, he also coached the golf team where his teams were [Conference Champions from 1980-81, 1982-1984, 1985-1990], and [Region 1 Champions 1985-1986, 1987-1988, 1989-1990]. His teams played in [7 NJCAA National Championships], he coached [11 NCJAA All-Americans] and he coached [1 NCJAA National Championship team]. He was ultimately named to the Golf Hall of Fame by the National Junior College Athletic Association on June 8,1992 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

During his time in Hobbs, Jesse and his children won so many golf tournaments it would be hard to list them all here. He definitely practiced what he preached and honed his own personal and coaching skills all over the United States. His children were also very successful both academically and in golf. His daughter, Missy, won 2 New Mexico State High School Individual Medalist Golf Championships and 3 Sun Country Junior PGA Championships and played at the University of New Mexico. His son, Jesse Bart, won 2 New Mexico State High School Team Golf Championships and 2 Sun Country Junior PGA Championships. JB went on to win the Hobbs City Golf Championship and competed with Coach Blackwelder on teams at the NMJC and then Stanford University. Jenni, his youngest, won 1 New Mexico State High School Individual Medalist Golf Championship and also won the Texas-Oklahoma Junior Championship. All three went on to obtain undergraduate and master’s degrees in their respective professional fields. Jesse has always been so proud of all of his children.

Jesse also started his own business during this time – Blackwelder’s Golf – where he gave private golf lessons. He carried the business on after his “retirement” from NMJC. Blackwelder’s Golf thrived for another 40 years. He taught golf privately to numerous clients in Hobbs, New Mexico, Lubbock, Texas and many surrounding cities in West Texas, the Panhandle and New Mexico where he taught for over 25 years. He touched many lives both through golf but also personally. Many viewed him as a “coach” but also as a “father” figure. It is hard to explain the impact he had on some many thousands of lives, but it was profound. He would count his accomplishments at Blackwelder’s Golf by the many PGA professionals he helped make the various tours, the many Hobbs and Lubbock Country Club Champions he taught, but also in the many amateur clients, young and old, who he helped compete and win in the numerous high schools and various tournaments. He loved all of his clients and gave them all he had each day they came for a lesson. He was teaching until he was 84 years old, every day, from sun-up to sun-down, until just months before he passed.

As a private teacher, he helped the following individuals make professional tours, including the PGA, Senior PGA, and European Tours: Ronnie Black, Bart Bryant, Sean O’Hair (LCC Member), Kent Jones, J.J. Killeen, Per Nyman, and Shane Bertsch. He was a proud member of the Hobbs Country Club and the Lubbock Country Club and taught many club champions including most recently Marian Barker (LCC Member), Tyler Chadwich, and Levi Fisher (LCC Member). He also helped Eli Tran compete internationally in the Evian Championship Junior’s Cup in France, where the United States team won the Cup 2017.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Reverend Dr. Todd Salzwedel and staff from First United Methodist Church and Mrs. Kattie Reid from Resthaven Funeral Home & Memorial Park.

Jesse’s funeral will be held on Saturday May 10, 2025, at First United Methodist Church (1411 Broadway Street, 79401) in Lubbock at 10:30 am. A reception will follow in the Parlor after the service. Jesse’s family is starting a golf scholarship fund, for one male and one female, from Lubbock to play golf in the college of their choice and are asking for donations. Pennington Bass & Associates will help assist Carole Blackwelder in organizing the scholarship fund. More details about the golf fund will be presented at the funeral. For additional information about the service please use the following website from Dignity Memorial: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/lubbock-tx/jesse-blackwelder-jr-12336865

“Even Though Ben Hogan Took Up Golf as a Caddie When

He Was About Eleven Years Old, It Took Him More

Then Twenty Years of Constant Effort to Build a Swing and a Game He Could Rely On.”

Jesse Blackwelder’s Funeral Will Be on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at First United Methodist Church — 1411 Broadway Street, Lubbock, TX 79401. The Funeral Service Will be from 10:30 am - 12 pm and the Reception Will Be Held in the Parlor at the Church Starting at 12 pm.

Many People Have Inquired About Lodging. Here are Some Recommendations and I Hope This Will Help: (1) Cotton Court (Valencia Hotel Collection) 1610 Broadway Street, Lubbock, TX 79401 [806-758-5800]; (2) Pioneer Pocket Hotel, 1204 Broadway Street, Lubbock, TX 79401 [806-778-7783]; (3) Home 2 Suites by Hilton (New Build 3/2024), 1704 Marsha Sharp Freeway, Lubbock, TX 79415 [806-758-5950]; and (4) Overton Hotel & Conference Center (Historic Hotel) 2322 Mac Davis Lane, Lubbock, TX 79401 [806-776-7000].

If You Are Able to Come, Our Family Is Looking Forward to Seeing You and Sharing Memories About Jesse Blackwelder. There Are Few individuals in Life That Have Such a Profound Effect on so Many People and Are Able to Touch Their Hearts and Inspire Them to Be the BEST They Can Be and That Was Jesse Blackwelder. For Restaurant Recommendations, Please Text My Husband Roland Juarez at 213-447-6551. He Can Help Assist You If Needed. Have a Blessed Week! 🙏🏻🩵

Missy Blackwelder-Juarez

Remember Me

To the living, I am gone,

To the sad, I will never return.

To the angry, I was cheated,

But to the happy, I am at peace

And to the faithful, I have never left.

I cannot speak, but I can listen.

I cannot be seen, but my presence can be felt.

I can no longer lead, but I can walk beside you.

So as you stand gazing at a beautiful sunset

or the moon in its endless sky,

As you look in wonder at the colors of a rose

or listen to the song of a bird,

Remember me.

Remember me in your heart,

in your thoughts, and in your memories.

Remember the times we loved,

The times we fought,

The times we laughed,

And the times we cried,

The times we teased

And the times we shared.

For if you think of me,

I will not have died.

I have only gone with Jesus