Winton M. Blount
Encyclopedia
Winton Malcolm "Red" Blount, Jr. (February 1, 1921 – October 24, 2002) was the United States Postmaster General
from 1969-1972. He is also known as the founder and former Chief Executive Officer
of the large construction company Blount International.
He was the last Postmaster General who led the Post Office as an Executive Department and who held Cabinet-member rank.
, Blount served in the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
, training as a B-29 pilot. However, the war ended before his training was complete.
Blount and his brother William Houston Blount started a building contractor company Blount Brothers Construction in 1946. Houston left this company in 1948 leaving Winton to serve as President and Chairman until entering public service in 1969. The company worked on such construction projects as the First Avenue Viaduct in Birmingham, Alabama
, the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans
and Cape Canaveral
's Complex 39A which launched Apollo 11
.
In 1952, Blount was appointed the Alabama Chairman of Citizens for Eisenhower, then in 1960 Southeastern Campaign Chairman for Richard Nixon
's unsuccessful Presidential campaign against John F. Kennedy
. 1961 saw him elected President of the Alabama Chamber of Commerce, then President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1968.
In 1964, Blount was appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson
to the National Citizens Committee for Community Relations, to advise the White House on the enforcement of the new Civil Rights Act of 1964
even though he had doubts about the new law.
In 1969, Blount was appointed as the United States Postmaster General
by Richard M. Nixon, and he supervised the transition in 1971 of the U.S. Post Office Department
from a Cabinet level department of the Federal government to a special independent executive agency. Blount was the last Cabinet-level Postmaster General and, he served as the first director of the new U.S. Postal Service. In 1971, Blount's profile was depicted alongside Benjamin Franklin's on the face of a silver proof coin commemorating the inauguration of the new Postal Service. The commemorative coin was offered in a carrier with one stamp bearing a Philadelphia postmark from the old Post Office, and another from Washington DC, placed by the new Postal Service.
In 1972, Blount ran an unsuccessful campaign against John Sparkman
as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate
from Alabama
. From May 1972 to November 1972, George W. Bush
transferred from the Texas Air National Guard
to assist Blount's U.S. Senate campaign as its political director.
In 1973, Blount returned to Blount International, Inc., becoming its president once again in 1974. From 1981-1984 Blount, Inc., built the King Saud University
in Riyadh
, Saudi Arabia
.
In 1980, Blount served as national chairman of John Connally
's unsuccessful primary campaign, with the nomination being won by Ronald Reagan
.
In 1999, Blount International, Inc., was sold to Lehman Brothers
company for $1.35 billion.
Blount died in Highlands, North Carolina
, at the age of 81.
, which is home to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival
.
Also, an elementary school
in the Montgomery County, Alabama
, School System, was completed in 2003 and was named the Winton M. Blount Elementary School. Blount Elementary was located on the city's rapidly-growing east side, and it is currently one of the largest elementary schools in the region.
The Blount Undergraduate Initiative, a liberal arts honors program for Blount Scholars, was started at the University of Alabama. The Blount Scholars reside in the Blount Living Learning Center on the campus.
The Winton M. Blount Center for Postal Studies and the Winton M. Blount Research Chair, both at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum
, were founded with an endowment from the Blount estate.
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
from 1969-1972. He is also known as the founder and former Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the large construction company Blount International.
He was the last Postmaster General who led the Post Office as an Executive Department and who held Cabinet-member rank.
Overview
Born in Union Springs, AlabamaUnion Springs, Alabama
Union Springs is a town in Bullock County, Alabama, United States. The population was 3,670 at the 2000 census.-History:The area that became Union Springs was first settled by white men after the Creek Indian removal of the 1830s. Twenty-seven springs watered the land, giving rise to the name of...
, Blount 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....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, training as a B-29 pilot. However, the war ended before his training was complete.
Blount and his brother William Houston Blount started a building contractor company Blount Brothers Construction in 1946. Houston left this company in 1948 leaving Winton to serve as President and Chairman until entering public service in 1969. The company worked on such construction projects as the First Avenue Viaduct in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
's Complex 39A which launched Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
.
In 1952, Blount was appointed the Alabama Chairman of Citizens for Eisenhower, then in 1960 Southeastern Campaign Chairman for Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's unsuccessful Presidential campaign against John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. 1961 saw him elected President of the Alabama Chamber of Commerce, then President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1968.
In 1964, Blount was appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
to the National Citizens Committee for Community Relations, to advise the White House on the enforcement of the new Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
even though he had doubts about the new law.
In 1969, Blount was appointed as the United States Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
by Richard M. Nixon, and he supervised the transition in 1971 of the U.S. Post Office Department
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
from a Cabinet level department of the Federal government to a special independent executive agency. Blount was the last Cabinet-level Postmaster General and, he served as the first director of the new U.S. Postal Service. In 1971, Blount's profile was depicted alongside Benjamin Franklin's on the face of a silver proof coin commemorating the inauguration of the new Postal Service. The commemorative coin was offered in a carrier with one stamp bearing a Philadelphia postmark from the old Post Office, and another from Washington DC, placed by the new Postal Service.
In 1972, Blount ran an unsuccessful campaign against John Sparkman
John Sparkman
John Jackson Sparkman was an American politician from the state of Alabama. A conservative Southern Democrat, Sparkman served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate from 1937 until 1979. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President as Adlai Stevenson's running mate in...
as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. From May 1972 to November 1972, George W. Bush
George W. Bush military service controversy
George W. Bush's National Guard service was an issue in the 2000 presidential campaign and in the 2004 presidential campaign. A controversy centered on questions of how George W...
transferred from the Texas Air National Guard
Texas Air National Guard
The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Texas and a component of the Texas Military Forces...
to assist Blount's U.S. Senate campaign as its political director.
In 1973, Blount returned to Blount International, Inc., becoming its president once again in 1974. From 1981-1984 Blount, Inc., built the King Saud University
King Saud University
King Saud University is a public university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 1957 by King Saud bin Abdul Aziz as Riyadh University, as the first university in the kingdom not dedicated to religious subjects. The university was created to meet the shortage of skilled workers in...
in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
.
In 1980, Blount served as national chairman of John Connally
John Connally
John Bowden Connally, Jr. , was an influential American politician, serving as the 39th governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy, and as Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard M. Nixon. While he was Governor in 1963, Connally was a passenger in the car in...
's unsuccessful primary campaign, with the nomination being won by Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Retirement
In 1996, the Greenwich Publishing Group published his autobiography called Doing It My Way, which he had co-written with Richard Blodgett.In 1999, Blount International, Inc., was sold to Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
company for $1.35 billion.
Blount died in Highlands, North Carolina
Highlands, North Carolina
Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, it lies mostly in southeastern Macon County and slightly in southwestern Jackson County, in the Highlands and...
, at the age of 81.
Philanthropy
Blount and his wife Carolyn, were philanthropists and notable patrons of the arts. Together they founded the Blount Cultural Park in Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, which is home to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is a museum located in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, featuring several art collections. For seventy years, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts has been a showcase for the visual arts in Central Alabama...
and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Alabama Shakespeare Festival
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is the seventh largest Shakespeare festival in the world. Each year, it attracts more than 300,000 visitors from throughout the United States and more than 60 countries, to its home in Montgomery, Alabama....
.
Also, an elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
in the Montgomery County, Alabama
Montgomery County, Alabama
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the most populous county in the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area; its population in 2010 was 229,363 .- History :...
, School System, was completed in 2003 and was named the Winton M. Blount Elementary School. Blount Elementary was located on the city's rapidly-growing east side, and it is currently one of the largest elementary schools in the region.
The Blount Undergraduate Initiative, a liberal arts honors program for Blount Scholars, was started at the University of Alabama. The Blount Scholars reside in the Blount Living Learning Center on the campus.
The Winton M. Blount Center for Postal Studies and the Winton M. Blount Research Chair, both at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum
National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum, located opposite Union Station in Washington, D.C., USA, was established through joint agreement between the United States Postal Service and the Smithsonian Institution and opened in 1993. The museum is located across the street from Union Station, in the building that...
, were founded with an endowment from the Blount estate.
Further Reading
- Lera, Thomas, ed. The Winton M. Blount Postal History Symposia: Select Papers, 2006—2009. Smithsonian Contributions to History and Technology, no. 55. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2010.
External links
- Bio
- Blount info
- Maker of cutting tools finds keys to its renewal - article in The Oregonian about Blount International
- Alabama Shakespeare Festival http://www.asf.net
- Winton M. Blount at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...