Blick bids farewell to transportation board, employees

Gary Blick put stamp on 13 years of service to Idaho Thursday when he retired as the Idaho Transportation Board member from District 4 in south-central Idaho Thursday. His departure also punctuates a lifetime of community and public service and a successful business career.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne appointed Blick to the board in 1999, and reappointed him six years later. During his tenure, Blick served under four board chairmen and with four department directors.

He and his brothers opened a gas station, general store and coffee shop in downtown Castleford, across the street from the offices of their trucking business. They also operated a restaurant and the “Merc.”

His father, George, served in the Idaho Legislature from 1951 to 1966, in the same august body as retired Transportation Board Chairman Darrell Manning.

Brothers Benny and Phil also have tasted public service. The former was a member of the Idaho Potato Commission and has been named as a possible legislative candidate, according to the Twin Falls Times-News. Phil Blick is a member of a local canal board.

The retiring board member founded Gary Blick Trucking Inc., in 1961; two years later his brothers joined him in forming Blick Brothers Farms Inc.

Gary served as a volunteer to the Boy Scouts of America, the Twin Falls County Fair Board, the Castleford Men’s Club and the local Little Leaguebaseball organization. He and wife Barbara attend the Castleford Methodist Church. They have three sons and seven grandchildren.

“In Castleford, the Blicks are more than well-known. They’re an institution. And Gary Blick is a big reason why,” wrote Times-News reporter Gregory Hahn.

Honest, fair, and willing to speak frankly, Blick will be known as another in a growing field of Transportation Board members who served with integrity and fairness. Although he formally represented the eight counties of District 4, Blick refused to yield to territorialism. He looked at the board assignment as an opportunity to represent all regions of the state, Gen. Manning reminded.

Blick’s appointment to the board formally expired on Jan. 31. Gov. Otter will appoint a successor – one of two board vacancies to be filled. The other opening is from ITD’s District 3, a replacement for Jerry Whitehead who became chairman upon Manning’s retirement last month.

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Published 2-10-2012