LOCAL LEGEND: Gordy Hicks, the man behind Gordy’s Hill

For more than half a century, Gordy Hicks has been a driving force in shaping both the terrain and the spirit of Socorro. From building trails to serving on the city council, Hicks’ legacy is etched into the hills and streets of his hometown.

Hicks, 76, is best known for creating Gordy’s Hill Off-Highway Vehicle Park, now the largest off-terrain park in New Mexico. What started as a personal passion for riding motorcycles turned into a community landmark.

“I just wanted a place for kids to play,” Hicks said. “Back then, we kept getting chased off everywhere.”

Decades ago, Hicks worked with the Bureau of Land Management to secure land for recreation. He spent months mapping trails on his motorcycle, eventually earning federal recognition for his efforts.

“They flew my wife and me to Washington to get an award,” he recalled. “I never thought it would turn into something this big.”

The park hosts the annual Hicks 100 Hill Climb each October, drawing more than 140 racers and filling local hotels and restaurants.

“That’s what I was shooting for, a little revenue for the city,” Hicks said. “But the main thing was giving kids a safe place to ride.”

His contributions go far beyond the trails. Hicks served 33 years on the Socorro City Council, championing projects like the rodeo arena and advocating for local infrastructure.

“Times are changing so much now,” Hicks said. “It’s hard to write a resolution that fits today and tomorrow. You almost have to have a time exchange to keep up.”

He recalled testifying in Orlando on unfunded mandates and laughing at misconceptions about rural life.

“They told us we were spending too much money on cattle guards,” Hicks said. “They thought it was a person standing there watching cattle cross. They had no idea it was just iron out in the middle of nowhere.”

For Hicks, policy was never about politics, it was about people.

“Ninety percent of folks just want an answer,” he said. “That’s one thing I always did. I got back with them so they knew where they stood.”

He also ran Hicks Body Shop and Towing for 44 years, a family business now in its third generation.

“People were really good to us,” Hicks said. “Now our son Danny runs the wrecker. That makes three generations.”

A Navy veteran and lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hicks has spent decades supporting fellow service members.

“We tried to help our vets take care of them,” he said. “It was tough when they shut down chapters, but we did what we could.”

Though retired from public office and business, Hicks stays busy crafting furniture for his nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

“I’ve got a wood room now,” he said with a laugh. “I make bowls and benches, just play with wood.”

From racing drag cars in the ’60s to shaping policy in Santa Fe, Hicks has worn many hats. But his humility remains intact.

“I don’t know about being a legend,” he said. “I just wanted to make things better for the kids.”