He was born Feb. 24, 1922, in Ottawa, the son of Hale and Clara (Larsen) Blair. He grew up in Ottawa and graduated from Ottawa High School in 1939.

He graduated from Kansas University in 1943. He was a two-year letterman on the KU basketball team and played for Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen. He was on the team that left to join the military during World War II in 1943. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and served in the Philippines and Europe and reached the rank of master sergeant.

Mr. Blair was a financial adviser for IDS American Express, a marketer for Sinclair Oil, a part-time bailiff in the Douglas County District Court, and he worked at Travellers Inc. He was a retired funeral director at Blair Mortuary, Emporia, a business he had owned from 1962 through 1981.

He was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church, Lawrence Rotary Club, KU Alumni Association, American Legion Post No. 5, Emporia, Emporia Masonic Lodge No. 12, Scottish Rite Bodies, Topeka, Arab Temple of Topeka and Neosho Valley Shrine Club. He was formerly a member of the National and Kansas Funeral Directors Assns. While in Emporia, he was the former president of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.

He married Alice Shinn on April 12, 1950, in Ottawa. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Karen Blair, Omaha, Neb., a son, Jeff A., Lawrence; and two grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to Seem-to-be-Players, Lawrence, Lawrence Community Theatre, Rotary Youth Exchange or American Field Service, sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

Online condolences may be sent to info@warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Blair.