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Line 48: − + − + + + − The couple moved to Alexandria in 1940 and had four children: Rebecca "Becky" Blair Tisdale (born 1942), Richard "Nippy" Blair (born 1943), Robert Blair (born 1948), all of Alexandria, and Jane Blair Couvillon (1950-1988: a [[cancer]] victim). Becky is a retired teacher and the widow of [[history]] [[professor]] Garry Lee Tisdale, who taught at LSU at Alexandria. He died of [[brain cancer]] in 2000 at the age of fifty-six, and LSUA subsequently honored him with the naming of Garry Tisdale Drive on the campus. Robert "Bobby" Blair operates the Blair farm and Blair's former vegetable stand called the "Old Gray Mule," a favorite gathering place for Louisiana politicos off U.S. Highway 71 near the farm. It was at the Old Gray Mule that Blair developed his skills as a raconteur. He dubbed his farm "The Sweet Corn Capital of Louisiana." Nippy Blair is a well-known regional artist and has been the building superintendent of Emmanuel [[Southern Baptist|in need Baptist Church]] in downtown Alexandria.+ − − In 1944, Blair, though he had two small children, enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations for the remainder of [[World War II]].
→Background
==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 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
Blair|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=August 23, 2019}}</ref> She also had unrealized talent for [[art]], which particularly developed in the next generation through her older son and younger daughter.
Blair|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=August 23, 2019}}</ref> She also had unrealized talent for [[art]], which particularly developed in the next generation through her older son and younger daughter.
The couple moved to Alexandria in 1940 and had four children: Rebecca "Becky" Blair Tisdale (born 1942), Richard "Nippy" Blair (born 1943), Robert Blair (born 1948), all of Alexandria, and Jane Blair Couvillon (1950-1988: a [[cancer]] victim). Becky is a retired teacher and the widow of [[history]] [[professor]] Garry Lee Tisdale, who taught at LSU at Alexandria. He died of [[brain cancer]] in 2000 at the age of fifty-six, and LSUA subsequently honored him with the naming of Garry Tisdale Drive on the campus. Robert "Bobby" Blair operates the Blair farm and Blair's former vegetable stand called the "Old Gray Mule," a favorite gathering place for Louisiana politicos off U.S. Highway 71 near the farm. It was at the Old Gray Mule that Blair developed his skills as a raconteur. He dubbed his farm "The Sweet Corn Capital of Louisiana." Nippy Blair is a well-known regional artist and has been the building superintendent of Emmanuel [[Southern Baptist|in need Baptist Church]] in downtown Alexandria.
Though he had two small children, Blair enlisted in 1944 in the [[United States Navy]] and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations for the remainder of [[World War II]].
==Legislative highlights==
==Legislative highlights==