Buck Blabon

Buck Blabon was the most prominent person in or around Patagonia in the 30s and 40s. He owned the only service station and garage. He owned a cafe. He repaired every windmill in eastern Santa Cruz County. Nothing of consequence was done in the Patagonia area without Buck's approval.

Once an "Easterner" was having a well drilled on his ranch. Buck told him he would not hit water where the well was being drilled. When the well turned out to be a dry hole the Easterner called Buck to come out and show him where to drill. Buck picked a spot about two hundred feet from the first well and , sure enough, the well was a good one.

Buck was originally a baseball player with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. The Angels sold his contract to the Bisbee Bees of the Arizona League and Buck was on a train to report to Bisbee when he met a man who was superintendent of a mine east of Nogales. The mine had constant problems with a large gasoline engine and Buck was an expert on gasoline engines. The man hired Buck to come to the mine and repair the balky engine. After the repair, Buck stayed on as Head Mechanic and Bisbee lost a potential first baseman.

From the very beginning Buck intended to start his own business which he did. He married a local girl and prospered for the next fifty years in Patagonia.

Guin and I rented a house from Buck and his wife, Hilda. It was brand new and became known as "Sam and Guins" house. We became fast friends, attending University ball games and local dances together even though Buck and Hilda were much older than we.