Photograph in the Brandon University gym of (L to R) Murray McLeod, Bob Mandziuk, Jerry Hemmings, and Junior Alexander(?) with the CIAU championship trophy after the men's Bobcats won the 1986-1987 season.
Photograph of (L to R) Murray McLeod, Jerry Hemmings, Junior Alexander (holding the CIAU trophy), and Bob Mandziuk with the CIAU banner for the 1986-1987 season in the Brandon University gym.
Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
Robert Troy Blair died on July 2, 2024 in Saskatoon, SK. He is buried in Brandon, MB.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. L to R: Norman Joss (Manager), George Martin (Manager), Dwight Kearns, Dave Bauman, Ryan Smith, Frank Lindal, Willie Jerks, Blake Simcoe, Larry Rodenbush, Jack Mitchell, Doug Fraser, Mel Harvey, Al Johnson (Trainer). Foreground: Coach Howard
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Mike Howry, Bruce Lyons, Bohdan Pisak, John Weber, Dave Price, Ryan Gray, Bob Dodds, Nelson Burrell, Rick Kartzmark, Clyde Van Caeyzelle, Mike Bourg, Lew Worell, Frank Bauche, Grant Griffith. Front Row (L to R): Kevin MacDonald (Manager), Willie Reimer (Ass’t Coach), Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Dan Majcher (Statistician)
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Front Row (L to R): Fred Lee (Ass’t Coach), Gord Matheson (Manager), Jerry Hemmings (Coach). Middle Row (L to R): Steve Noyes, Dave Knutson, Dino Gini, Mark Hogan, Lyn Milne, Rick DeGagne. Back Row (L to R): John Weber, Ron Hummelt, Ben Szymkow, Jerry Abernathy, Keith Streiter, Bob Dodds, Lew Worrell
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Front Row (L to R): Dave Perkins (Ass’t Trainer), Ray Houssin (Ass’t Coach), Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Chris Parlow (Manager). Back Row (L to R): Dino Gini, Lew Worrell, Don Jackson, Warren Kyle, Tom Price, Jerry Abernathy, Keith Streiter, Jude Kelly, Rick DeGagne, Fred Lee, Bobby Campbell. Missing: Brian Pallister, Mark Hogan
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. L to R: Wallace Mainor, Alf Hoehn, Jan Bujan, Jude Kelly, Butch Gayton, Earl Roberts, “Diamond” Jim Dollings (Honorary Manager), Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Ray Kardas (Trainer), Grant Coulter, Cheddie Warner, Brian Ackroyd, Tony Speas, Steve Gill, Jerry Abernathy
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Front Row (L to R): Jerry Hemmings (Coach), “Diamond” Jim Dollings (Honourary Manager), Murray McLeod (Ass’t Coach). Back Row (L to R): Earl Roberts, Grant Coulter, Keith Wilder, Tom Price, Wallace Mainor, Will Marshall, John Bukich, Jude Kelly, Brian Ackroyd, Butch Gayton, Cheddie Warner. Missing: Don Thomson, Bob Dodds.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Front Row (L to R): Marty Hills (Manager), Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Dwight Kearns (Ass’t Coach), Diamond Jim Dollings (Honourary Manager). Back Row (L to R): Kenny Fields, Don Thomson, Rick Briscoe, Butch Gayton, Tom Price, John Carson, John Bukich, Keith Strieter, Jan Bujan, Jude Kelly, Brian Ackroyd, Grant Coulter, Earl Roberts, Cheddie Warner. Missing: Bob Eamer (Ass’t Coach).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Courtney Bailey, Don Thomson, Kenny Fields, Butch Gayton, Frank Bojarski, Lonnie Anderson, John Bukich, Jan Bujan, John Carson, Brian Ackroyd, Rick Briscoe, Grant Coulter, Earl Roberts. Front Row (L to R): Murray McLeod (Ass’t Coach), Dwight Kearns (Coach), Bob Eamer (Ass’t Coach).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Don Thomson, Kenny Fields, Frank Bojarski, James Pettiford, John Carson, John Bukick, Patrick Jebbison, Charles Douthit, Brian Ackroyd, Marvin Russell, Rick Briscoe. Front Row (L to R): Mike Velie (Manager), Courtney Bailey, Cam Hurst, Earl Roberts, Darcy Marshall (Manager).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Anna Neufeld (Equipment Manager), Don Thomson, Courtney Dwyer, John Carson, John Bukich, Milton Vaugn, Frank Bojarski, Patrich Jabbison, Vince Bowen, Jerry Hemmings (Coach). Front Row (L to R): Warren Watt, Marvin Russell, Courtney Bailey, Reggie Simms, Darcy Marshall (Senior Manager).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Anna Neufeld (Equipment Manager), Gary Latty, Mike Thomas, Doug Carmichael, Patrick Jebbison, David Dominique, Robert Clarke, Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Bob Mandziuk (Ass’t Coach). Front Row (L to R): Bill Haycock (Manager), Junior Alexander, Warren Watt, Marvin Russell, Dave Malowski, Courtney Bailey, Murray McLeod (Consultant). Missing: John Carson, Debbie Dabney.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Front Row (L to R): Sam Munro (Manager), Joey Vickery, Doug Scotchburn, Dave Brown, Dave Nackoney, Justin Jones. Back Row (L to R): Ron McCutcheon (Head Coach), Jerome Gaines, Elden Irving, Doug Carmichael, Ian McGowan, Jim Lamond, Jamie Procope, Kenny Fields (Ass’t Coach).
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}