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).
Photograph shows a junior boys' hockey team in Medicine Hat, Alberta. One of the team members is holding a trophy. Fred McGuinness, Jr. is a member of the team.
Photograph shows a junior boys' hockey team in Medicine Hat, Alberta. One of the team members is holding a trophy. Gallagher McGuinness is a member of the team.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: autographs - Rick Leask, Brian Crandell, Clayton Hirsch, George McKay, Jim Witts, David Frey. Other names listed in two columns include: Doug Furrey, Jim Witts, Leo May, Sig Taylor, Bill Holden, Wayne Wilkins, ?, Risk Leask, Barry Kurtz, Reg Bronat, Blain Hogg, Clayton, Hirsch, Brian Crandell, Ken Briol?, Dave Frey, ?
Photograph shows a junior boys hockey team in a hockey rink. The boys are wearing Maple Leafs jersies. Hanging on the boards behind the team is a pennant that reads: The Rotary Club, Medicine Hat, Alta. Gallagher McGuinness is the goalie.
Photograph shows a group of 10 men, eight whom are wearing sweaters with the letters WCBC appliqued across the chest. The goalie is seated in a wodden chair and wears his goalie pads and skates. The four other players in the front row are also wearing skates and have their hockey sticks.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph mat reads: Wheat City Business College Hockey Club, 1912
There is some kind of residue on the left side of the image.
Custodial History
Photograph was transferred to the Archives from the Athletics Department in May 2017.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Brandon University hockey player Gary Kaluzniak holding the GPAC championship plaque aloft on the ice. George Birger is standing to his right.
Backing board is warped and has two large tears on the back. There is foxing on the image and board on the front
Custodial History
Image was donated to the McKee Archives in 2020 by Don Smith, Associate Curator/Manager of the Cornwall Community Museum/SD&G Historical Society and a volunteer with the City of Cornwall's Heritage Cornwall Committee. Smith was asked by a local used bookstore owner to find a home for a box of items they had acquired from the new owner of a Lancaster, ON are antique/collectibles operation.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the players, manager and president of the Wheat City Business College hockey team. The name and position/role of each man is written in the bottom right corner of their portrait.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcat varsity men's hockey team. Back Row (L to R): Doug Patterson, Bruce Taylor, Glen Edwards, Tom Mitchell, Gene Collins, Wayne Palidwar. Middle Row (L to R): Ken Dando, Bill Henderson, Wilf Taylor, Gary McDonald, Laurence Bertram, Ralph Gardiner. Front Row (L to R): Jim Mann (Coach), John Graham, Wally Peel, John Findlay, John Birnie, Doc Hannah.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Bruce Stephens, Kaye Bradley, Bob Young, Mark Kennedy, Danny McPherson, Ted Temple, Bob Leslie. Back Row (L to R): Jim Mann (Coach), Chuck Meighen (Ass’t Coach), Brian Bruce, Roy McLachlan, Jim McLachlan, Mel Jesson, Harvey Shaw, Lyle Franklin, Garth Freeman, Keith Angus (Manager), Doc Hannah (Trainer). Missing: Andy Murray, Garry Davidson, Ken Coleman (Manager).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Stan Harvey, Mark Kennedy, Harvey Shaw. Middle Row (L to R): Kaye “Buzz” Bradley, Roy McLachlan, Dan McPherson, Bob Leslie, Bruce Bonk, Ted Temple. Back Row (L to R): Mr. Wayne Davies (Coach), Doc Hannah (Trainer), Bruce Stephens, Larry Gillis, John Graham, Garry Davidson, Jeff Derke, Clark Lang, Darcy Normand, Ken Baker, Ken Coleman (Manager), Dick Gunter (Manager).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Jeff Burke, John Goran, Terry Wilkstrom, Kaye Bradley, Larry Gillis, Don Cassils, Blaine Bechtold. Back Row (L to R): Bob Walberg, Jim Ferguson, Jack Richardson, Brian Boyle, Perry Robinson, Andy Murray, Gord Lane, Doug Gillies, Greg Thompson, Barry Gooden, Harvey Shaw, Doug Wotton, Larry Budzinski.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): R.H. “Doc” Hannah, Brian Boyle, Doug Gillies, Bob Kabel (Coach), Perry Robinson, Harvey Shaw, Dr. Hunter (Team Doctor). Middle Row (L to R): Dick Gunter (Manager), Bruce Bonk, Terry Wikstrom, Bob Caldwell, Larry Budzinski, Bob Walberg, Dale McKinnon, Danny Cassils, Ken Buch, Norm Joss.. Back Row (L to R): Jeff Burke, Larry Gillis, Jim Ferguson, Jack Richardson, Barry Gooden, John Goran, Clark Lang, Greg Thompson, Ken Coleman (Manager).
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Larry Budzinski, Russell Shaw, Jim Ferguson, Jack Richardson, Perry Robinson, Trevor Fahey (Coach), Larry Gillis, Brian Boyle, Phil Spratt. Middle Row (L to R): Bob Young, Grant Thomson, Bob Caldwell, Doug Gillies, Derek Schmuck, Clark Lang, Brian Reid, Barry Gooden, Greg Thompson. Back Row (L to R): Dick Gunter (Manager), Norm Joss (Trainer), Ken Buchy, John Goran, Brooke Kent, Barry Cairns (Manager), “Doc” Hannah (Trainer). Missing: Andy Murray.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Larry Budzinski, Larry Gillis, Barry Gooden (Assistant Coach), Greg Thompson, Trevor Fahey (Coach), Jim Ferguson, Dale McKinnon. Middle Row (L to R): Doc Hannah (Trainer), Tom Hinch, Bob Young, Perry Robinson, Jeff Sheardown, Jack Richardson, Garry Davidson, Rob Smith, Russ Shaw, Barry Cairns (Manager). Back Row (L to R): Ken Buchy, Craig Campbell, Darry Stevens, John Goran, Wayne Naka, Larry Clarke, Tom Skinner.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Dale McKinnon, Russ Shaw, Ken Buchy, Greg Thompson, Barry Gooden, Bob Young, Harley Campbell. Middle Row (L to R): Trevor Fahey, Chuck Naish, Erik Tully, Tom Hinch, Rob Smith, Craig Campbell, Bob King. Back Row (L to R): Kit Harrison, Don Hurton, Bob Basiuk, Jeff Sheardown, Glen Williamson, Darry Stevens.