RUBY LOUISE BLAIR
"The Hamilton Herald-News" 01/13/2000
Louise Blair, 75, a lifelong resident of Hico, died Jan.
6. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 15 at the First United Methodist
Church in Hico with Rev. Glenda Whitehead officiating.
Born Ruby Louise Blair to Solomon Elbert and Abbie
Wesley Burks Blair on March 16, 1924, in Hico, she attended Hico schools
and graduated in 1941 and then went to John Tarleton Agricultural College.
During World War II, Miss Blair worked at Curtis Field
in Brady and upon her return briefly attended Howard Payne College before
beginning work in her father’s hardware store.
Through the years, she learned the hardware business
working alongside her father. She acquired Blair’s Hardware as full
owner in the 60's. Miss Blair sold the business in 1996 for health
reasons, however, it continues to operate as Blair’s Hardware.
She was active in the community, devoting years of
service to The American Cancer Society and The American Heart Association.
In 1974, Miss Blair was the first woman to be elected to the Hico City
Council where she served continuously until 1980 when she was elected
Mayor Pro Tem in Hico.
She was the first woman in Hamilton County to serve on a
jury, and the first woman in this area to serve as a pallbearer. She
worked for many years to ensure the success of the Old Settler’s Reunion
and received the Hico Citizen of the Year Award in 1982.
Other accomplishments she was proud of were the Hico
Heliport that Miss Blair dedicated to her father and the Peppermint Square
Park, which she joined with Glenn Ross in creating and maintaining for the
benefit of Hico.
She was a member of the First Methodist Church of Hico
and Eastern Star.
Her parents and two brothers, Morris Burks Blair and S.
E. Blair, Jr. preceded her in death.
Survivors include two nieces, Ellen Blair of ... and
Catherine Blair of ...; her aunt, Ruby Malone of ...; three cousins Mary
Louise Laughlin ... and RueAnn Harrington of ...
Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Howard, Jimmie Ramage,
Tex Knudson, Harold Walker, Billy Ward, Floyd Drake, Bob Bates, Glenn
Ross, Bruce Slaughter, Bill Rutledge, Larry Holderman, and Janie Holderman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made
to First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 99, or Peppermint Square, c/o Glenn
Ross, P. O.Box 38, both in Hico, 76457.
