Pat Bohlender: Native Coloradoan, raised in a very small ranching/Ag community in SE Colorado. 200 population in town. I was the middle of three girls. Between my Freshman and Sophomore years, my Dad sold his trucking (cattle/hay/grain) business (kept cattle) and took the position of Head Forman on a nearby large cattle ranch, owned by a family out of El Paso, TX. I changed schools and now was 45 miles one-way to town/school. Hugo was a larger town (1200) with 23 in my graduating class. Started out at Jr College in Business. Changed degree plan and attended Texas Tech a year; back to Colorado- got married. Worked at Samsonite in Denver—started as file clerk, 2 weeks; promoted to Credit and Collections, 8 months promoted to supervisor of Accounts Payable and Receivable, approx.. one-year; then promoted to “Gal Friday” to the President of Furniture Division. I’m now 24. Adopted a son, had 2 girls, (now 30). Worked PT in banking downtown Denver, then decided to go back to college to get degree in teaching Home Economics and Psychology. Divorced/remarried. Two master’s degrees: Curriculum/Classroom Management and Administration. Taught 12 years and was a State Administrator for Home Economics for 13 years. In that position I articulated curriculum from secondary Vocational Programs under the umbrella of Home Economics (Early Childhood, Interior Design, Food Service, Catering, Nutrition/Wellness, Industrial sewing, Basic Life Skills) to post-secondary. Went to Washington, DC and was among other State leaders in US to change the name of Home Economics to Consumer and Family Studies-updated curriculum and am published for creating a curriculum called Pro-Start for students wanting to enter the world of food service. –Life change– (husband who was the State Veterinarian for CO, killed in car accident April,2000). Our only child together (T.J.) was in 7th grade—moved back to SE Colorado in 2001—retired from State Community College System -remarried and stayed there 13 years. I taught an Elementary program for children with reading disabilities, updated curriculum for Title I program, wrote grants for schools, on Library Board and ended up being the Librarian, (moved them from date stamp to computerized),wrote grants and increased the size of Library books from 3,000+ to over 18,000; bookkeeper for Golf Course, helped organize tournaments and catered numerous events. Divorced.
Moved back to northern Colorado (2015) and became President of Republican Women’s club – received recognition for increasing membership 168% the first year which did not include the Assoc. membership. We received State-wide recognition for gathering over 14,000 signatures to recall Governor Polis and gathered over 10,000 signatures to “Stop Late-term Abortion in Colorado”. I was also Precinct Chair, door-knocked for Trump and local Republican candidates.
Moved to Canyon, TX June, 2020 to help my son (TJ) and growing family. Couldn’t stand by and watch our Country going downhill, so got involved one last time!
Pat can be reached here