Joe F. Blair
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" F. Blair was an American sports publicist for the University of Maryland
and the Washington Redskins
of the National Football League
.
, Blair graduated from Freeport High School
in 1941. He served in the United States Army Air Forces
for three years as a tail gunner
during the Second World War. During a mission, he lost part of a finger from combat wounds and received the Purple Heart
. Blair attended the University of Pittsburgh
after the war and later transferred to the University of Missouri
. He was a member of the Sigma Chi
fraternity.
In 1950, the University of Maryland hired Blair as its sports information director
. The Washington Post
credited him with publicizing the 1953 Maryland Terrapins football team
with the voters for national championship selection, many of whom were unable to see the team firsthand. In 1962, Blair left Maryland to work for the Washington Redskins
as the club's publicity director. Blair returned to the University of Maryland in 1983 as an assistant sports information director for Jack Zane. The Atlantic Coast Conference
honored Blair with the Marvin "Skeeter" Francis Award for service in 1993. Blair developed a reputation for being protective of Maryland's players. He persuaded senior quarterback John Kaleo
to speak to the media for the first time a week before the season. According to Blair, "The kid had never played a full game at Maryland ... I said, 'Look, son, if you play a bad game, these reporters are going to destroy you. You better go out and make as many friends as you can, in case you don't become a star.'"
Blair suffered a stroke on a flight to attend the Maryland–Louisville
football game on October 27, 1995. He was hospitalized in Allegheny General Hospital
in Pittsburgh, where he died on November 15, 1995. During his hospitalization, Maryland dedicated its game against NC State
to Blair, which it won, 30–13, to secure its first winning season since 1990.
Blair disliked drawing attention to himself and spelled his name in all lowercase letters on news releases. He once told The Baltimore Sun
, "Don't you write about this in the paper. If you're going to get the space, give it to some deserving kid." Eighteen children were named in honor of Blair by his friends. According to The Sun, he never forgot the name of any of Maryland's football
or lacrosse players.
The pressbox at Byrd Stadium
was named the Blair–Zane Media Work Area partly in his honor in 1991. In November 1996, the University of Maryland established the Joe F. Blair Memorial Scholarship Fund in his memory. The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
inducted Blair in 2005.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Biography
A native of Freeport, PennsylvaniaFreeport, Pennsylvania
Freeport is a borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States; it is situated along the Allegheny River in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,962 at the 2000 Census. Freeport received its name from David Todd, who declared it to be a free-port where no man would be...
, Blair graduated from Freeport High School
Freeport High School
Freeport High School is a public high school in Freeport, Maine for students in grades 9–12 residing in the towns of Freeport, Durham, and Pownal...
in 1941. He served in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
for three years as a tail gunner
Tail gunner
A tail gunner or rear gunner is a crewman on a military aircraft who functions as a gunner defending against enemy fighter attacks from the rear, or "tail", of the plane. The tail gunner operates a flexible machine gun emplacement on either the top or tail end of the aircraft with a generally...
during the Second World War. During a mission, he lost part of a finger from combat wounds and received the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. Blair attended the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
after the war and later transferred to the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He was a member of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity.
In 1950, the University of Maryland hired Blair as its sports information director
Sports information director
A sports information director is a type of public relations worker who provides statistics, team and player notes and other information about a college or university's sports teams to the news media and general public...
. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
credited him with publicizing the 1953 Maryland Terrapins football team
1953 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 1953 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association college football in its first season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference . Maryland outscored its opponents 298–38 and recorded six defensive shutouts. Jim Tatum...
with the voters for national championship selection, many of whom were unable to see the team firsthand. In 1962, Blair left Maryland to work for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
as the club's publicity director. Blair returned to the University of Maryland in 1983 as an assistant sports information director for Jack Zane. The Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
honored Blair with the Marvin "Skeeter" Francis Award for service in 1993. Blair developed a reputation for being protective of Maryland's players. He persuaded senior quarterback John Kaleo
John Kaleo
John Kaleo is a retired American football quarterback in the Arena Football League for the Albany Firebirds , Cleveland Thunderbolts , St...
to speak to the media for the first time a week before the season. According to Blair, "The kid had never played a full game at Maryland ... I said, 'Look, son, if you play a bad game, these reporters are going to destroy you. You better go out and make as many friends as you can, in case you don't become a star.'"
Blair suffered a stroke on a flight to attend the Maryland–Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
football game on October 27, 1995. He was hospitalized in Allegheny General Hospital
Allegheny General Hospital
Allegheny General Hospital is a large urban hospital located at 320 East North Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Allegheny General Hospital, also known locally by the acronym "AGH!", is located in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh...
in Pittsburgh, where he died on November 15, 1995. During his hospitalization, Maryland dedicated its game against NC State
NC State Wolfpack football
The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
to Blair, which it won, 30–13, to secure its first winning season since 1990.
Blair disliked drawing attention to himself and spelled his name in all lowercase letters on news releases. He once told The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
, "Don't you write about this in the paper. If you're going to get the space, give it to some deserving kid." Eighteen children were named in honor of Blair by his friends. According to The Sun, he never forgot the name of any of Maryland's football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
or lacrosse players.
The pressbox at Byrd Stadium
Byrd Stadium
Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium , is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. It is the home of the Maryland Terrapins football and lacrosse teams, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference...
was named the Blair–Zane Media Work Area partly in his honor in 1991. In November 1996, the University of Maryland established the Joe F. Blair Memorial Scholarship Fund in his memory. The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
inducted Blair in 2005.