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→Legislative highlights
As a House member, Blair supported farmers in need of open range lands. During the administration of [[Governor]] [[Robert F. Kennon]], Blair authored the bill to fence the highways to keep roaming [[cattle]] off the roads. He worked to obtain the relocation to Alexandria of St. Mary's Training School for the handicapped. In the Senate, Blair pushed for the creation of Buhlow Lake adjacent to the Red River in Pineville, where boat races are held. In the House multi-district, Blair served with two colleagues from Rapides Parish, Lloyd George Teekell and H. N. Goff. In effect, Blair replaced [[W. George Bowdon, Jr.]], who left the legislature after a single term to run successfully in 1953 for [[mayor]] of Alexandria, a post that Bowdon held for sixteen years.
As a House member, Blair supported farmers in need of open range lands. During the administration of [[Governor]] [[Robert F. Kennon]], Blair authored the bill to fence the highways to keep roaming [[cattle]] off the roads. He worked to obtain the relocation to Alexandria of St. Mary's Training School for the handicapped. In the Senate, Blair pushed for the creation of Buhlow Lake adjacent to the Red River in Pineville, where boat races are held. In the House multi-district, Blair served with two colleagues from Rapides Parish, Lloyd George Teekell and H. N. Goff. In effect, Blair replaced [[W. George Bowdon, Jr.]], who left the legislature after a single term to run successfully in 1953 for [[mayor]] of Alexandria, a post that Bowdon held for sixteen years.
Early in 1955, a dispute broke out at the 1,150-patient Louisiana Colony and Training School at nearby Kingsville north of Pineville. [[Willie Kees]], a Pineville businessman had resigned as mayor in 1952 to head the school. When Kees was named superintendent in December 1954, a dispute broke out with William P. Hurder, the clinical director who was both a [[psychologist]] and a [[physician]]. The two had previously shared authority. Kees' promotion touched off charges of "politics" in his selection. Blair defended the Kees selection, but because of the controversy, Kees resigned from the school to return to the private sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/LSUHSC_NCC/id/2319|title=Hurder takes post as colony superintendent|publisher=louisdl.louislibraries.org|date=January 19, 1955|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24584268/|title=State Colony Resignation Brings Rift|date=January 19, 1955|publisher=''Lake Charles American-Press''|page=2|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> Kees Park in Pineville is named for the late mayor.
Early in 1955, a dispute broke out at the then 1,150-patient Louisiana Colony and Training School at nearby Kingsville north of Pineville. [[Willie Kees]], a Pineville businessman had resigned as mayor in 1952 to head the school. When Kees was named superintendent in December 1954, a dispute broke out with William P. Hurder, the clinical director who was both a [[psychologist]] and a [[physician]]. The two had previously shared authority. Kees' promotion touched off charges of "politics" in his selection. Blair defended the Kees selection, but because of the controversy, Kees resigned from the school to return to the private sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm/ref/collection/LSUHSC_NCC/id/2319|title=Hurder takes post as colony superintendent|publisher=louisdl.louislibraries.org|date=January 19, 1955|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24584268/|title=State Colony Resignation Brings Rift|date=January 19, 1955|publisher=''Lake Charles American-Press''|page=2|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref> Kees Park in Pineville is named for the late mayor.
Blair worked for the establishment of the original two-year LSUA, located near his Lecompte farm in south Rapides Parish. Years later, the school was given four-year status, a breakthrough which came only a few weeks before Blair's death.
Blair worked for the establishment of the original two-year LSUA, located near his Lecompte farm in south Rapides Parish. Years later, the school was given four-year status, a breakthrough which came only a few weeks before Blair's death.