Warren Thomas Husted

Warren “Tom” Husted passed away on February 26, 2024, at the VA Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. Tom was born in Tucson, AZ on July 7, 1942, to Warren and Eva Husted. His childhood and early school years were spent in Coolidge, AZ, where his father was involved in meat processing and ranching. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Karen, brother Jerry of Paris, Kentucky and sister Cathy Giesy of Tubac, AZ and several cousins. The family moved to Tucson AZ in 1953, Tom graduated from Catalina High School in1960. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of AZ with a major in animal science and pre veterinary medicine in 1964. He received his MS degree in animal nutrition in 1967. He was one of the early researchers involved in the study of processing grain to most effectively promote weight gain on feedlot cattle. To expand his knowledge of the agricultural world throughout his high school and college years he worked as a wrangler on a dude ranch, a cowboy for the historic X9 Ranch, owned by Henry Jackson, the Rosemont Ranch owned by Jack Greenway, and general horse work for the Gill Cattle Company’s Lightening A, a horse and stud farm. Tom’s primary focus was the handling and care of their stallions, many of which were foundational in the quarter horse world and especially quarter horses racing. He was on the U of A livestock judging team, he became top horse judge in the national judging competitions. He also worked in the U of A meats lab as a meat cutter. Upon graduation from the U of A he was employed by First National Bank of AZ in Tucson and trained as an agricultural loan officer. In 1967 he was drafted into the Army and stationed at Ft. Bliss for basic training, where he served as a platoon leader. He was trained as an Army Medic at Ft. Sam Huston with some specialization in treating burn victims of the Vietnam War. He was assigned to Ft. Bragg as a medic and then to food inspection school in Chicago for the Army food supply. He returned to Ft. Bragg where he was a food inspector in the morning, and an assistant in the veterinary clinic in the afternoon. In all of his military service he was a leader in the class. While at Ft. Bragg he completed course work for an MS in business and economics. In 1968 he returned to the position of agriculture loan officer at First National Bank. Tom created one of the largest agricultural loan portfolios in the region. His clients included leading people in the agricultural, feedlot and ranching enterprises such as John Wayne, Lewis Johnson and Ralph Wingfield. He married his U of A livestock judging team member, Karen Kay Kinkaid, who became his 55-year lifetime partner in the cattle ranching, horse breeding and horse racing world. In 1972 he received an offer from his bank clients, Alicia and Lee Fisher to become the managing partner for the Agua Nuevo Ranch near Sasabe, Sonora. He continued in this position for 25 years,, which included purchasing and exporting cattle to the US. He involved the ranch in the support of the Sasabe, Sonora school. During this same time period Tom and his family leased and operated the Mirador Ranch near Sasabe, AZ. In 1989 Tom and Karen purchased the Buckhorn Ranch out of Douglas, AZ. They started developing a herd of crossbred red angus and red brahma cattle under the mentorship of their friend Tom Hunt Sr. of Patagonia. They continued breeding some race horses and crossbreeding to create a mountain ranch horse to work cattle in rough country. Throughout their ranching career they also raised good working cattle dogs, primarily Blue Heelers. In 2019 they sold the Buckhorn and purchased the San Pedro River Ranch out of Benson, AZ where they continued a similar breeding program. Throughout his career Karen called him her Renaissance Man/Cowboy for his love of science, literature, history, music, and art. Throughout his life he read extensively on all of these topics and many more, reading and ranching were his passions. Tom was active in the Tucson Lions Club and did outreach to their partner Lions Clubs in Sonora, Mexico. He was on the board of directors for the Mountain Oyster Club for 25 years. He was particularly active with the MO art show and served on their jury committee for their annual show and sale. Tom was a member of the San Pedro Cowboy Church in Benson, AZ. He was a major sponsor for the Tucson and Douglas Cabagatos, a charity trail ride and barbecue to raise funds for people with expensive medical bills and limited resources to pay for the extensive care of a major illness.He served on the board of Cochise Graham Cattle Growers. He was a committed advocate and sponsor for youth activities such as 4 - H and Future Famers of America. He helped Karen with many types of support for young people throughout her 50 year career as an educator. They met students needs in a variety of ways including basic life needs, support for their educational funding, mentoring their dreams and most importantly being listeners and providing guidance. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at The Red Barn - 711 North Madison Ave. Benson, AZ. Exiting to the North side of I - 10 on the Ocotillo Exit. The entrance road is across the street from Denny’s and on the south side of the Benson RV park. The service will be at 12:00 p.m. with a luncheon to follow. Donations can be made to the charity of your choice or to Horse’n Around Rescue. ATTN: Theresa C Warrell P O Box 698 Herford,AZ. 85615 www