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 of the Brandon College Capettes basketball team (1966-1967). Front Row (L to R): Jan Neddrie, Val Broadfoot, Judy Kellie, Capt. Barbara Ann Scott, Rhonda Harper. Back Row (L to R): Manager Margaret Reid, Fay Emish, Vicki Moore, Janice Doak, Coach Doug Steeves. Missing: Sandra Schneider, Linda Oakley.
Photograph shows the five members of the 1911-1912 men's YMCA basketball team. From left to right, H. Hughes, H.A. Robinson, [Frederick Gallagher] F.G. McGuinness (Fred McGuinness' uncle), A.C. Pryke, and [Robert J.] R.J. Hosie
Notes
Negatives stored with photograph. Identifications made from Pirates Basket Ball Team Winners Cornell Trophy 1910--1912 and BCI Senior Basket Ball Team Winners of Cornell Trophey 1913 (uncatalogued YMCA photos, SJ McKee Archives)
Photograph sent to Fred McGuinness from Ms. Bertha Eastley in 2007 (see McG 1.2, File 60)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a women's curling team standing on the ice with their corn brooms at the Wheat City Arena. Standing left to right are: Jane Loughran (skip), Ruth McGuinness, Ester Nicol, Gwen Lamont.
Notes
Writing on back of photograph reads: Jane Loughran (skip), Ruth McGuinness, Ester Nicol, Gwen Lamont.
Photograph given to Fred McGuinness byJack Stothard?
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the 1936-1937 men's Brandon Collegiate Basketball team posing in the studio with their coach. A trophy cup is displayed next to a basketball.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Brandon Collegiate Inst. Brandon, Man, 5" by 3", 5" by 3", 5" by 3".
The 1896 Winnipeg Bonspiel, and Lieutenant-Govenor’s Trophy, was won by the Inglis rink of the Brandon Curling Club. The winning members were (left to right) G.H. Smith (first), Wm. Henderson (third), Jno. Inglis (skip) and W.L. Parrish (second ).
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Standard up-to-date practical letter writer : a comprehensive and practical guide to correspondence, showing the structure, composition, formalities and uses of the various kinds of letters, notes and cards
Dr. Chester New taught History at Brandon College from 1913-1920. John Grant graduated from Brandon College in 1919. David McNaught and Fred Howard were part of the Class of 1920.
Scope and Content
Portrait of the Brandon College Curling rink of John Grant, David McNaught, Fred Howard and Dr. Chester New standing on the front steps of the Brandon College Building.
The 1927-1928 team won the provincial championship in women's basketball, beating the Winnipeg Athletics 45 to 2.
Scope and Content
Portrait of the 1927-1928 Brandon College women's basketball team. L to R: Dr. Evans (coach), Ruth Bingham, Jerrie Balmer, Jean Gammon, Jean Doig, Ann Foster, Helen Ball, Evelyn Doig, Ella Bowering
Portrait of the Brandon Bobcats women's basketball team. L to R: Terry Diakow (Manager), Mary Field, Betty Ann Scott, Karen Anderson, Allison Parkhurst, Cheryl Loeppky, Naomi Marumoto, Nancy Edgerton, Nancy Stanley (Coach)
Surface is cracking, discoloration is evident and there are red sports on the lower right portion of the image
Scope and Content
Portrait of the Brandon Bobcats women's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Nancy Stanley (Coach), Connie Turnbull, Kathy Smith, Lesley Johnson, Rhonda Harper, Vicki Hanwell. Front Row (L to R): Violet Herman, Gay Scora, Betty Ann Slon. Missing: Ruth Ann Johnston, Devin Best
Portrait of the Brandon Bobcats women's basketball team. Front Row (L to R): Cheryl Loeppky, Helen Hastings, Norma Wall, Carol Dreilick, Dauna Cutforth, Gloria Misanchuk. Back Row (L to R): Donna Garson, Muriel Gamey, Lynda Richardson, Marilyn Southward, Joan Hutchinson, Nancy Stanley (Coach)