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Line 46: − He lived, first, in the Paradise Community north of the Red River and later on Jackson Street Extension in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. He is most associated, however, with his farm near Lecompte (pronounced LEA COUNT), a community south of Alexandria.+ − + − + − +
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| resting_place=Greenwood Memorial Park in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana
| resting_place=Greenwood Memorial Park in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana
|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
|party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| alma_mater=Sicily Island High School<br>
| alma_mater=Sicily Island High School
[[Louisiana Tech University]]<br>
[[Louisiana Tech University]]<br>
[[Louisiana State University]]
[[Louisiana State University]]
'''Cecil Ray Blair''' (April 2, 1916 – July 6, 2001) was a Rapides Parish [[farmer]] and [[business]]man who was a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of both houses of the [[Louisiana]] state legislature during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He served in the House from 1952 to 1956. His Senate service came in two segments, 1960 to 1964 and 1966 to 1976.
'''Cecil Ray Blair''' (April 2, 1916 – July 6, 2001) was a Rapides Parish [[farmer]] and [[business]]man who was a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of both houses of the [[Louisiana]] state legislature during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He served in the House from 1952 to 1956. His Senate service came in two segments, 1960 to 1964 and 1966 to 1976.
Blair lived, first, in the Paradise Community north of the Red River and later on Jackson Street Extension in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. He is most associated, however, with his farm near Lecompte (pronounced LEA COUNT), a community south of Alexandria.
==Background==
==Background==
Blair was the third of eight children born to a [[sharecropping]] family, a son of [[Alabama]] native Homer Franklin Blair (1889–1956) and the [[Mississippi]] native, the former Hersie Elnora Pearson (1888–1979). He was born in [[rural]] Morgantown in Marion County near Columbia in southwestern Mississippi. Blair grew up in Sicily Island, a small community in Catahoula Parish northeast of Alexandria. Coincidentally, years later, Blair served in the state Senate alongside another Catahoula Parish native, Jess Carr "Sonny" Gilbert of Sicily Island.
Blair was the third of eight children born to a sharecropping family, a son of [[Alabama]] native Homer Franklin Blair (1889–1956) and the [[Mississippi]] native, the former Hersie Elnora Pearson (1888–1979). He was born in [[rural]] Morgantown in Marion County near Columbia in southwestern Mississippi. Blair grew up in Sicily Island, a small community in Catahoula Parish northeast of Alexandria. Coincidentally, years later, Blair served in the state Senate alongside another Catahoula Parish native, Jess Carr "Sonny" Gilbert of Sicily Island.
After he graduated in 1934 from Sicily Island High School, 18-year-old Cecil Blair, with virtually no money, went to [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] to attend [[Louisiana Tech University]]. He worked his way through college and in 1938 completed a Bachelor of Science degree in [[biology]]. At Tech, he met the love of his life, the former Virginia Susan Ruth "Susie" George (March 4, 1917 – May 1, 2005). After graduation, Blair enrolled in [[graduate school]] at [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] to procure a [[Master of Science]] in his chosen field of entomology. Susie joined him at LSU to complete her studies.
After he graduated in 1934 from Sicily Island High School, 18-year-old Cecil Blair, with virtually no money, went to [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] to attend [[Louisiana Tech University]]. He worked his way through college and in 1938 completed a Bachelor of Science degree in graduate school at [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] to procure a [[Master of Science]] in his chosen field of entomology. Susie joined him at LSU to complete her studies.
The daughter of the Reverend Albert George and the former Ruth Hoffpauir, Susie George grew up in [[Methodist]] parsonages throughout Louisiana. She was born in the [[village]] of Bonita in Morehouse Parish northeast of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. Susie wrote two children's books, which focused on life around the Blair farm. The book ''Easter Pony'' received international acclaim and was listed as one of the year's best books by the American Library Association in 1963, the year it was published.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Easter-Pony-Susie-Blair/dp/B0007E1FWG|title=''Easter Pony''|author=Susie
The daughter of the Reverend Albert George and the former Ruth Hoffpauir, Susie George grew up in [[Methodist]] parsonages throughout Louisiana. She was born in the [[village]] of Bonita in Morehouse Parish northeast of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]]. Susie wrote two children's books, which focused on life around the Blair farm. The book ''Easter Pony'' received international acclaim and was listed as one of the year's best books by the American Library Association in 1963, the year it was published.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Easter-Pony-Susie-Blair/dp/B0007E1FWG|title=''Easter Pony''|author=Susie