Portales mayor was passionate about brighter future

He was a dedicated leader. A friend of the community. A mentor to those who sought his guidance.

That's how friends and family described former Portales Mayor Ronald Jackson, who died Wednesday evening.

"He was dedicated. Ron was the type of guy who would go out of his way to help anyone and everyone. ... He always made friends easily," Jackson's brother, Roger Jackson said.

Ron Jackson, 63, died at a hospital in Lubbock. Roger said his brother's medical condition had been rapidly worsening since Jan. 3. He announced in November he'd be stepping down as mayor due to stage 4 renal failure and dialysis at home.

Ron Jackson had been Portales' mayor since 2018 and was a City Council member from 2002 to 2014.

"We as a city are absolutely beyond sad about this news. He was a wonderful leader and genuinely cared about our staff. He was not a politician, he was much greater," Portales City Manager Sarah Austin said.

City Councilor Veronica Cordova said Jackson was always passionate about making a brighter future for the city.

Even after Jackson had stepped down as mayor, he messaged city employees on a daily basis to ensure the community was being taken care of, Cordova said.

"It broke his heart to step down, but he knew he had to focus on his well being. ... Mayor Jackson always had the community at the forefront of his mind," Cordova said.

Cordova said she often looked up to Jackson, and that he had a way of ensuring the Council operated as a single unit.

When he wasn't working, Roger Jackson said his brother loved watching Dallas Cowboys football games. They spent holidays together as a family and he and his brother enjoyed hosting barbecues.

"We used to do family get-together all the time when we were children. Now, me and him would host cookouts in our backyards whenever we could. ... We all loved being around each other. We all loved him very much," Roger Jackson said.

"He truly was an amazing man."