Blodgett, Dorothy

Dorothy Jean Chapin Blodgett was a journalist, freelance writer and public relations consultant in Austin, Texas. She was born to Hugh and Sadie Chapin on October 20, 1924. After graduating from Waco High School she attended Baylor University and graduated in 1945 with a BA in History. While attending Baylor she also began her professional journalism career at the Waco News Tribune. In 1946 she married Terrell Blodgett.

Although Dorothy took time off from full-time work to raise three children she established a career as a respected freelance writer and promotional professional beginning in the 1950s. She worked with J. J. "Jake" Pickle (then in public relations) and George Christian on Price Daniel's 1956 gubernatorial campaign. This began a long time association, both professional and personal, with Pickle. She went on to work for three Texas governors: John Connally, Mark White and Bill Clements. For Governor Connally she coordinated the first Texas Governor's Conference on Libraries in 1966. For Governor Clements she served as a consultant for the renovation/restoration of the Governor's Mansion in 1979. Her knowledge of the Mansion was again utilized when Governor White asked her to serve as a consultant on Governor's Mansion operational procedures and the training of the first Docent group in 1983. Her longtime interest in the Governor's Mansion led her, along with Governor and Mrs. Price Daniel, to write The Texas Governor's Mansion: A History of the House and Its Occupants .

In addition to her work for state office holders she wrote freelance articles for a variety of publications and speeches on a wide-range of topics as well as assisting in promotional activities for a variety of organizations such as the Women's Symphony League, the Texas Urban Development Commission and the Austin Yoga Center. She also taught in the journalism departments at Baylor University and the University of Texas in the 1960s. She was a member of many organizations over the years, including the Austin History Center Association, the Texas Oral History Association, the Texas State Historical Association, the University Ladies Club and Theta Sigma Phi, the fraternity for Women in Journalism (later named Women in Communication, Inc.).

Dorothy died on February 27, 2005 as a result of cancer of the bone marrow.

Terrell Blodgett was born in Texas on September 15, 1923. He attended Baylor University along with his wife Dorothy and graduated with a BA in Political Science. Terrell went on to receive a MA in Public Administration from Syracuse University. The couple returned to Texas and Terrell became involved in local government and has held positions as the City Manager of Garland (1963-64) and Waco (1960-63) and Assistant City Manager of Austin (1955-60).

Terrell went on to serve as the Administrative Assistant to Governor John B. Connally (December 1964-January 1969), serving initially as the first Director of the Texas Office of Economic Opportunity and then as principal assistant for intergovernmental relations and planning. From 1969 until his appointment at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs in 1982, Terrell Blodgett was the principal in charge of government services for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co. in a nine-state Southwest region.

At the LBJ School Terrell conducted teaching and research work in local and state government, nonprofit organizations, and public-private partnerships. During his tenure at the LBJ School Blodgett was also frequently recruited by Texas state and local officials for temporary assignments as a consultant. For example, in 1984 he served as chief consultant to the Legislative Audit Committee of the State of Texas; in 1985 he conducted a management study of the State Preservation Board's activities and the functions of the Capitol Architect; and then in 1991 he served as Executive Director of the Governor's Task Force on Revenue. In recognition of his work for state officials, Terrell was honored with the LBJ Foundation annual Excellence Award for his overall "trouble shooting for the state."

In 1995, Blodgett retired from teaching after having served thirteen years as the LBJ School's first Mike Hogg Professor in Urban Management. Since retiring, Blodgett has helped found the Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (TANO) and serves on their Board of Directors.

He has written several books including The Land, the Law, and the Lord: The Life of Pat Neff (along with his wife Dorothy and David Scott), Texas Home Rule Charters and Cities that Work: The History of Council-Manager Government in Texas .

From the guide to the Dorothy and Terrell Blodgett Papers AR. W. 002., 1947-2009, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )