James T. Blair Jr.

James Thomas Blair Jr. (March 15, 1902 – July 12, 1962) was
James T. Blair Jr.
an American Democratic politician from the state of Missouri. He
served as the 44th Governor of Missouri from 1957-1961, as well
as the 35th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri from 1949-1957, and
a member of the Missouri House of Representatives.[1][2]

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 44th Governor of Missouri
Cumberland University in Tennessee.[4] Blair married his wife In office
Emilie Chorn of Kansas City in July 1926. January 14, 1957 – January 9,
1961
They were the parents of two children: a son, James T. Blair III,
and daughter Mary Margaret. During World War II Blair served in Lieutenant Edward V. Long
the US Army Air Forces in the European Theater. He received the Preceded by Phil M. Donnelly
Air Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star among other awards
Succeeded by John M. Dalton
as he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
35th Lieutenant Governor of
Missouri
Political history In office
January 10, 1949 – January 14,
Blair first entered politics shortly after graduation from law school
1957
by running for and winning election as city attorney for Jefferson
City in 1925. In 1928, Blair won election to the first of two Governor Forrest Smith
consecutive terms in Missouri House of Representatives.[2] Phil M. Donnelly
Following his second term in the General Assembly, Blair left Preceded by Walter N. Davis
politics to focus on his private law practice until his service in
Succeeded by Edward V. Long
World War II. Blair returned to politics in 1947 with his election as
mayor of Jefferson City. His mayoral term was short-lived, Member of the Missouri House of
Representatives
however, as in 1948 he was elected Missouri's Lieutenant
Governor, a post he held until he assumed the office of governor, In office
winning that race in November 1956.[5] 1929–1937
Personal details
As governor, Blair was known as a civil rights advocate, declaring
to the General Assembly Always and everywhere I will identify Born James Thomas
myself with any victim of oppression or discrimination...and I will Blair Jr.
support him. This helped lead to the Missouri Commission on March 15, 1902
Human Rights in 1957.[6] While in office, Blair was also an Maysville,
advocate of welfare reform and extending health insurance to the Missouri
disabled. Under his governorship the first budget control and Died July 12, 1962
review office was established.[7] Other highlights include a nursing (aged 60)
home licensing law, establishing a Council on Higher Education,
Jefferson City,
expansion of the Missouri Highway Patrol and setting of road
speed limits, and setting up a state employee pension fund. At the Missouri
time Missouri law prohibited a second consecutive term as Resting place Riverview
governor, leading to Blair's retirement from politics after leaving Cemetery
office in January 1961. Jefferson City,
Missouri
Death Political party Democratic
Spouse Emilie Chorn
James T. Blair's retirement would be short-lived. On July 12, 1962,
Blair and his wife were found dead in their suburban Jefferson Children 2
City home due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Investigators Profession Politician
theorized the home's central air conditioning system sucked in Lawyer
exhaust fumes from a vehicle accidentally left running in the
Awards Air Medal
garage.[8] Governor Blair and his wife were buried in the
Legion of Merit
Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City.
Bronze Star
Military service
References
Allegiance United
1. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index States
to Politicians: Blair" (http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/bla
ir.html). PoliticalGraveyard.com. Retrieved January 16, Branch/service United States
2017. Army
2. 404 - Page not found (http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/ Rank Lieutenant
menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgn Colonel
extoid=e078deb697c4a010VgnVCM1000001a01010a
Battles/wars World War II
RCRD) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110629
134748/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29f
ab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=e078d
eb697c4a010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD) June
29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
3. "MCL History-Dr. Anna Lou Blair" (http://www.missourist
ate.edu/mcl/history.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20100704234121/https://www.missouristate.edu/
mcl/history.htm) July 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
4. Christensen, Lawrence O.; Foley, William E.; Kremer,
Gary (October 1, 1999). Dictionary of Missouri
Biography (https://books.google.com/books?id=6gyxWH
RLAWgC&pg=PA82). University of Missouri Press.
ISBN 9780826260161. Retrieved January 16, 2017 –
via Google Books.
5. "Our Campaigns - MO Governor Race - Nov 06, 1956"
(http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceI
D=174331). 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 (http://www.missouris
tate.edu/mcl/history.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20100704234121/https://ww
w.missouristate.edu/mcl/history.htm) July 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
8. "Ex-Governor of Missouri Found Dead". Miami News. July 12, 1962. p. 2.

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