Benny Carr

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Benny Merle Carr was born in Sedgwick on Nov. 12, 1936, to James M. and Mary Evelyn Carr and passed away May 2, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M.

In his early years, his parents moved the family to Bono, another small rural town about six miles away. He attended elementary through high school there and graduated with honors in May 1954.

Wanting to be an engineer, he entered what is now Arkansas State University in the fall of 1954. It was there that he became seriously interested in the military and West Point through the local ROTC element.

By persistence with his congressman, E.C. Gathings and others, he received a fourth-alternate position appointment, took the exams, and became a qualified alternate. Two weeks before the entry date of July 5, 1955, orders came by telegram telling him to report to West Point.

At the academy, Benny did fairly well in academics and physical education, and he had one extracurricular activity that he loved, shooting.

In the fall of 1955, Benny dropped by the pistol range in the old converted coal storage building and met Master Sgt. Hewlett "Joe" Benner, six-time world champion and the coach of the pistol team.

Benny did well in competition. His awards included winning the Collegiate Pistol Championship at the Midwinter National Pistol matches at Tampa; First place in the NRA Indoor .22 cal Intercollegiate Championships; and two-time All American. Benny also competed in the National Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio.

After graduation, his first assignments were to the Engineer Basic Course, Airborne and Ranger schools, and the 13th Engineer Battalion, 7th Infantry Division in Korea.

Graduate School at Purdue University came next where he received a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.

It was during his time at Purdue that he married Paula Clark in March 1962. This was followed by the Engineer Career Course at Fort Belvoir where their first child, Brian, was born.

From there they went to Germany and a tour with the 293d Engineer Battalion, where he served as company commander and S-3. Their daughter, Vicki, was born in Birkenfeld, Germany.

Benny served his first tour in Vietnam with MACV both as an engineer advisor and operations advisor with I Corps.

He was promoted below the zone to major during this tour. His other assignments included instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, USMA; deputy district engineer, Memphis District, COE; and a second tour in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division.

At the end of his second tour in Vietnam in June 1970, he transferred from the Army to Air Force Civil Engineering.

His first assignment was to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., first in civil engineering at the base and later as the first director of environmental protection for Strategic Air Command (SAC).

His next assignment was as the base civil engineer/squadron commander at Wurtsmith AFB. During this tour, the squadron was selected as the "Best in SAC" and received the first-ever outstanding rating for a Civil Engineering Squadron in SAC.

His second son and third child, Brad, was born at Wurtsmith in 1974. After this tour, he became base civil engineer/squadron commander at Minot AFB.

During this tour, he was promoted below the zone to colonel. It was also during this tour where a tuberculosis-like disease that he contracted in Vietnam took over his body.

The disease almost killed him twice while spending about six months in hospitals. Benny never completely recovered from this ailment.

His next assignments were the Air War College, the director of engineering and construction for SAC, and last assignment, base civil engineer/squadron commander at Offutt AFB where he retired in 1980.

After military retirement, Benny moved his family to Albuquerque and took a job with the New Mexico Engineering Research Facility at Kirtland AFB where he directed a research organization in solar and wind power for Sandia National Laboratories.

From there, he moved his family to the Phoenix area where he managed a branch of a large architect/engineering company and following that taught as an associate professor of construction at Arizona State University.

Still seeking further adventures, Benny started his own engineering firm that did consulting work in wood components and electrical engineering. The company was successful and he sold it after two years of development.

Next, he became a sales engineer for Cooper Industries and affiliated companies selling engineered power equipment to electrical power companies.

These jobs led to becoming a consultant to the Western Area Power Administration where he managed the design of a $170 million 550kv substation south of Boulder City, Nev.

After this project was completed, he worked as both an executive and business developer for several electrical and mechanical engineering firms in the Denver area.

His last job before he retired in 2000 was back to academia. He served as department chairman for three departments at Northland Pioneer College.

Benny's last claim to fame was developing one of the best welding programs in the country. At the time of his death, he resided with Paula in Albuquerque.

Benny is survived by his wife of 59 years, Paula B. Carr along with children, Paul Brian Carr, Vicki L. Garcia and husband Felix, and Bradley M. Carr and wife Jessica; grandchildren, Nathan Carr, David Shane Broshious and wife Briana, James Carr, Emma Carr, Michelle Aceves and husband Joseph, and Katherine Baca and husband Toby; great-grandchildren, Cash Broshious, Raylynn Mascarenas and husband Joseph, Kodie Aceves, Lexi Garcia, Gabby Aceves and Bailey Aceves; and great-great-grandson, Dean Mascarenas.

Additionally, Benny is survived by his sister, Betty McCracken and husband Robert; niece, Cristi Wolf and husband Chad; nephew, Reed McCracken and wife Rhonda; and many great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, family and friends.

A celebration of Benny's life will be held at 1:30 p.m. July 9 at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in Benny's name.