Jerry Ronnie Hartzog
Jerry Ronnie Hartzog, age 80, passed away on December 28 after an extended illness. He grew up in Chipley, Florida, the son of Dewey and Rena Hartzog. He graduated from Chipley High School, where he played basketball and was voted “friendliest” by the 1963 graduating class. After serving a stint in the U.S. Army and an adventurous career as a rodeo cowboy and ranch hand, he received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in support of his work in agri-business, including cattle production, bovine genetics, and ranch management.
He retired from the University of Florida’s College of Agriculture (IFAS) as Coordinator of the North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna. In this role, he carried out protocol for university research projects and made presentations and demonstrations to cattlemen groups. He shared expertise on many topics, including herd management, controlled grazing, livestock facility design, bovine genetics, and embryo transfer. Many of his articles are still used in animal science and agri-business courses at the university. His work with cattlemen from northwest Florida, southwest Georgia, and southeast Alabama earned him a nomination for the coveted Davis Productivity Award by the University of Florida College of Agriculture.
Early in his career, he served on the Executive Board of the Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) and the Southeastern Association of Beefmaster Breeders. As a member of the national BBU Breed Improvement Committee, he helped plan and present the Breed Improvement Symposium in partnership with Texas A&M University. After retirement, he consulted as a certified professional livestock appraiser for banks and agricultural lending institutions.
He was an active Baptist, an ordained deacon, a former Gideon, and a member of Parkview Baptist Church. Before moving to Lake City, he participated in many mission projects with First Baptist Church of Marianna and the Chipola Baptist Association, including multiple visits to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and construction projects in West Virginia, Missouri, and other states.
He is survived by Gail (Cope) Hartzog, his wife of 57 years, and two daughters, Christy Thomas (Derick), a registered dietitian (RD), of Lake Butler; and Allison Campbell (Brett), a media specialist at Lake City Middle School; and one granddaughter Sybil Grace Thomas, who had become the light of his life. He is also survived by a brother, Wayne Hartzog, a sister, Becky Cousson, of Chipley, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The funeral will be held in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home on Friday, January 2, 2025 (1068 Main Street, Chipley, FL 32428). Family Visitation will be at 10:00 am (CST), followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 am (CST). The graveside service will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Chipley, with Brown Funeral Home in charge.