NOV 17
2012
Art Blair
Arthur Thomas “Art” Blair, Jr., age 91, one of the
TASO Baseball Founding Fathers, passed away November 17, 2012. Born on July 27,
1921, in Fort Worth, TX, Art was a resident of Dallas and Duncanville, and a
member of the Duncanville Church of Christ for many years.
After his family and church, Art’s life centered on
officiating amateur sports. He worked as a high school and college baseball
umpire for over 30 years. His career behind the plate included officiating for
the 1970 College World Series, many Regional NCAA baseball tournaments, and
multiple Texas UIL state baseball championships. Art served as the official
rules interpreter for the Southwest Conference (SWC) and Texas UIL baseball
programs, supervised the SWC program for umpires, completed terms as President
for regional and Texas officiating associations, and in 1999, was inducted into
the National Amateur Baseball Umpires’ Hall of Fame. The Art Blair Classic
Varsity Invitational Tournament is hosted each March by Duncanville HS Panther
Baseball and sponsored by their Baseball Booster Club and the Dallas Chapter of
the Texas Association of Sports Officials.
As a TASO Baseball Life Member, Art will now be moved the
“Roll of Honor”. Art also served the Dallas Chapter and TASO/SOA in many
capacities, his contributions too numerous to count.
