James T. Blair Jr.

James Thomas Blair Jr. (March 15, 1902 – July 12, 1962) was an American Democratic politician from the state of Missouri. He was the 44th Governor of Missouri as well as serving as the 35th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri and a member of the Missouri House of Representatives.[1][2]

James T. Blair Jr.
44th Governor of Missouri
In office
January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961
LieutenantEdward V. Long
Preceded byPhil M. Donnelly
Succeeded byJohn M. Dalton
35th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
In office
January 10, 1949 – January 14, 1957
GovernorForrest Smith (1949-1953)
Phil M. Donnelly (1953-1957)
Preceded byWalter N. Davis
Succeeded byEdward V. Long
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
In office
1929–1937
Personal details
Born
James Thomas Blair Jr.

(1902-03-15)March 15, 1902
Maysville, Missouri
DiedJuly 12, 1962(1962-07-12) (aged 60)
Jefferson City, Missouri
Resting placeRiverview Cemetery
Jefferson City, Missouri
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Emilie Chorn
ChildrenJames T. Blair III (son)
Mary Margaret Blair (daughter)
ParentsJames T. Blair
Grace (Ray) Blair
ProfessionPolitician
Lawyer
AwardsAir Medal
Legion of Merit Bronze Star
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
RankLieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsWorld War II

Personal history

Blair was born in Maysville, Missouri to James T. Blair and Grace (Ray) Blair. His father was a prominent lawyer in Springfield, Missouri who would later serve as an assistant attorney general for the state of Missouri and, in 1914, be appointed a judge to the Missouri Supreme Court.[3] Blair Jr. attended the Jefferson City, Missouri public schools and Staunton Military Academy in Virginia before pursuing higher education at Southwest Missouri State Teachers College (now Missouri State University) and the University of Missouri. He earned his law degree in 1924 from Cumberland University in Tennessee.[4] Blair married his wife Emilie Chorn of Kansas City in July 1926. They were the parents of two children: a son, James T. Blair III, and daughter Mary Margaret. During World War II Blair served in the US Army Air Forces in the European Theater. He received the Air Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star among other awards as he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Political history

Blair first entered politics shortly after graduation from law school by running for and winning election as city attorney for Jefferson City in 1925. In 1928, Blair won election to the first of two consecutive terms in Missouri House of Representatives.[2] Following his second term in the General Assembly, Blair left politics to focus on his private law practice until his service in World War II. Blair returned to politics in 1947 with his election as mayor of Jefferson City. His mayoral term was short-lived, however, as in 1948 he was elected Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, a post he held until he assumed the office of governor, winning that race in November 1956.[5]

As governor, Blair was known as a civil rights advocate, declaring to the General Assembly Always and everywhere I will identify myself with any victim of oppression or discrimination...and I will support him. This helped lead to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights in 1957.[6] While in office, Blair was also an advocate of welfare reform and extending health insurance to the disabled. Under his governorship the first budget control and review office was established.[7] Other highlights include a nursing home licensing law, establishing a Council on Higher Education, expansion of the Missouri Highway Patrol and setting of road speed limits, and setting up a state employee pension fund. At the time Missouri law prohibited a second consecutive term as governor, leading to Blair's retirement from politics after leaving office in January 1961.

Death

James T. Blair's retirement would be short-lived. On July 12, 1962, Blair and his wife were found dead in their suburban Jefferson City home due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Investigators theorized the home's central air conditioning system sucked in exhaust fumes from a vehicle accidentally left running in the garage.[8] Governor Blair and his wife were buried in the Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City.

gollark: > what if someone finds a hash collision thoughBan them. They cannot be trusted.
gollark: That's probably good enough.
gollark: name + nbtHash + damage I'd say.
gollark: Perhaps we should ban recursive data and fix this.
gollark: What even *is* equality any more?

References
  1. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Blair". PoliticalGraveyard.com. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  2. 404 - Page not found Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "MCL History-Dr. Anna Lou Blair" Archived July 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Christensen, Lawrence O.; Foley, William E.; Kremer, Gary (October 1, 1999). "Dictionary of Missouri Biography". University of Missouri Press. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Google Books.
  5. "Our Campaigns - MO Governor Race - Nov 06, 1956". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  6. Dictionary of Missouri Biography by Lawrence O. Christensen, University of Missouri Press, 1999
  7. Page Not Found - Missouri State University - Missouri State University Archived July 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Ex-Governor of Missouri Found Dead". Miami News. July 12, 1962. p. 2.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Phil M. Donnelly		 Democratic nominee for Governor of Missouri
1956		 Succeeded by
John M. Dalton
Political offices
Preceded by
Walter Naylor Davis		 Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
1949–1957		 Succeeded by
Edward V. Long
Preceded by
Phil M. Donnelly		 Governor of Missouri
1957–1961		 Succeeded by
John M. Dalton
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.