James T. Blair, Jr.
| James T. Blair Jr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 44th Governor of Missouri | |
|
In office January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961 |
|
| Lieutenant | Edward V. Long |
| Preceded by | Phil M. Donnelly |
| Succeeded by | John M. Dalton |
| 35th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri | |
|
In office January 10, 1949 – January 14, 1957 |
|
| Governor |
Forrest Smith (1949-1953) Phil M. Donnelly (1953-1957) |
| Preceded by | Walter N. Davis |
| Succeeded by | Edward V. Long |
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives | |
|
In office 1929–1937 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Thomas Blair Jr. March 15, 1902 Maysville, Missouri |
| Died | July 12, 1962 (aged 60) Kansas City, Missouri |
| Resting place | Riverview Cemetery Jefferson City, Missouri |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Emilie (Chorn) Blair |
| Children | James T. Blair III (son) Mary Margaret Blair (daughter) |
| Parents | James T. Blair Sr. Grace (Ray) Blair |
| Profession | Politician Lawyer |
| Awards | Bronze Star |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
James Thomas Blair Jr. (March 15, 1902 – July 12, 1962) was a Democratic politician from the state of Missouri. He was the 44th Governor of Missouri as well as serving as the 35th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri and a member of the Missouri House of Representatives.
Blair was born in Maysville, Missouri to James T. Blair Sr. and Grace (Ray) Blair. His father was a prominent lawyer in Springfield, Missouri who would later serve as an assistant attorney general for the state of Missouri and, in 1914, be appointed a judge to the Missouri Supreme Court. Blair Jr. attended the Jefferson City, Missouri public schools and Staunton Military Academy in Virginia before pursuing higher education at Southwest Missouri State Teachers College (now Missouri State University) and the University of Missouri. He earned his law degree in 1924 from Cumberland University in Tennessee. Blair married his wife Emilie Chorn of Kansas City in July 1926. They were the parents of two children: a son, James T. Blair III, and daughter Mary Margaret. During World War II Blair served in the US Army Air Forces in the European Theater. He received the Air Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star among other awards as he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Blair first entered politics shortly after graduation from law school by running for and winning election as city attorney for Jefferson City in 1925. In 1928, Blair won election to the first of two consecutive terms in Missouri House of Representatives. Following his second term in the General Assembly, Blair left politics to focus on his private law practice until his service in World War II. Blair returned to politics in 1947 with his election as mayor of Jefferson City. His mayoral term was short-lived, however, as in 1948 he was elected Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, a post he held until he assumed the office of governor, winning that race in November 1956.
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