Frank Blair (journalist)
Frank Blair | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Blair in 1953 | |
| Born | Frank S. Blair Jr. May 30, 1915 Yemassee, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | March 14, 1995 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | College of Charleston |
| Occupation(s) | Newscaster, journalist, author |
| Spouse | Lillian |
| Children | eight |
Frank S. Blair Jr. (May 30, 1915 – March 14, 1995) was a
Early years
Blair was born on May 30, 1915, in Yemassee, South Carolina.[2] His family moved to Walterboro, South Carolina, during his infancy and later moved to Charleston, South Carolina.[3]
He was a
Radio
Blair's radio debut was at WCSC in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1935. Later that year, he joined WIS in Columbia, South Carolina, as a newscaster. In 1937, he became program director at WFBC in Greenville, South Carolina. Several months later, he left there to join WOL in Washington, D.C., where his job included announcing for the Mutual Broadcasting System.[3]
When NBC radio's
Military service
Beginning in 1942,[3] Blair served in the U.S. Navy as a flight instructor and transport pilot[5] during World War II before resuming his broadcast career after the war.[7]
Television
In 1951, Blair began his television career as the host of Heritage, an NBC cultural series broadcast live from Washington's National Gallery of Art. From 1951 to 1953, he was the moderator of Georgetown University Forum on the DuMont Television Network. Blair became the news editor and on-air newscaster for Today in 1953, continuing in those roles until he retired in 1975.[3]
Stephen Battaglio, in his book, From Yesterday to Today: Six Decades of America's Favorite Morning Show, described Blair as "a protege of legendary broadcaster Lowell Thomas and a consummate professional."[8] Cathleen M. Londino opined in her book, The Today Show: Transforming Morning Television that one "reason for his success seemed to be that because he was so expressionless in reading the news, he read it in a completely objective manner. 'One could never tell where he stood on what he was reading. In all of his 22 years on the air, nobody can remember hearing him express a single viewpoint.'"[9]
Personal life
Blair and his wife, Lillian had eight children.[10] He retired from NBC in 1975 to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. In 1979, he published his autobiography, Let's be Frank About It, in which he discussed his life and career, including some bouts with alcoholism.[11]
Death
Blair died in Hilton Head in 1995, 20 years to the day from his final NBC broadcast.[7]
References
- Baltimore Sun. March 16, 1995. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- New York Times. March 16, 1995. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-6086-1. Pp. 34-35.
- ^ "Distinguished Eagle Scout Award". Boy Scouts of America. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
- ^ a b "TODAY' SHOW ANCHORMAN FRANK BLAIR DIES AT AGE 79". The Washington Post. March 15, 1995. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ISBN 9780231521932. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "Frank Blair, 79, Ex-anchorman On 'Today' Show". March 15, 1995. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ISBN 978-0762445486. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ISBN 9781442269934. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- People Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ "Let's Be Frank About It". Kirkus. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
External links
- Frank Blair at IMDb
- Frank Blair at Find a Grave
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