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DOUGLAS L. BLAIR, 81, of Barbourville, passed away Tuesday morning, January 19, 1999. He was born August 27, 1917 in Hampton Roads, VA to the late Lee and Olive Strickland Brown. Due to illness within the family, he was adopted by the late John Henry and Sarah Jane Blair of Harlan. Mr. Blair was the founder of the former Richland Coal Company which started operation in 1948 and was president and CEO for 37 years. During World War II, he served our country in the United State Marine Corps. Mr. Blair was the first male president of the Barbourville PTA, past president of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Cumberland Council of the Boy Scouts of America, past president and director of the Mountain Laurel Festival Association, served as a member of the Kentucky State Fair Board from 1962 to 1983 and was president form 1968 to 1972, and is a past chairman of the Board of the Kentucky Independent College Fund and has served as Chairman Emeritus of the Union College Board of Trustees. Through the years, Mr. Blair received several awards including the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America, in 1978 was named as the Daniel Boone Festival's "Man of the Year," the Phi Delta Kappa Friend of Education Award, the American Legion Certificate of Continuous Membership (50 years) and the Francis Asbury Award for his work in higher education given by the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church. On September 7, 1940, he united in marriage with Jane Bassett Minton in Barbourville. Survivors include his wife, Jane of Barbourville. A memorial service was conducted at the First United Methodist Church in Barbourville Thursday, January 21 at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Charles Douglas, Dr. David Joyce and Dr. Jack Phillips officiating. Burial was in the Barbourville Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may go to Union College in loving memory of Mr. Blair. Knox Funeral Home was in charge of Arrangements.
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