Frank Blair (journalist)

Frank Blair
John Chancellor, Blair and Edwin Newman on the Today Show set in 1961
Born	(1915-05-30)May 30, 1915 Yemassee, South Carolina
Died	Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Nationality	American
Education	College of Charleston
Occupation	Newscaster, journalist, author
Years active	1935 – 1975
Spouse(s)	Lillian
Children	eight

Frank S. Blair, Jr. (May 30, 1915 – March 14, 1995) was a broadcast journalist for NBC News, known for being a news reader on the Today program from 1953 to 1975.

Blair was born on May 30, 1915 in Yemassee, South Carolina. He was a Boy Scout, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in 1930. As an adult, he would be honored with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He attended the College of Charleston prior to beginning his broadcasting career in various radio stations in South Carolina in the 1930s. Blair joined station WOL in Washington, D.C. in 1937. He served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot during World War II before resuming his broadcast career after the war.

He was hired for the Today program in 1952.

Blair and his wife, Lillian had eight children. He retired from NBC in 1975 to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. In 1979, he published his autobiography, Let's be Frank About It, in which he discussed his life and career, including some bouts with alcoholism. He died in Hilton Head 20 years to the day from his last broadcast on NBC.

File:Frank Blair Dave Garroway Muggs Jack Lescoulie Today 1953.JPG

Blair (left) with the rest of the 1953 Today show cast, including J. Fred Muggs

External links

• Frank Blair at the Internet Movie Database
• Frank Blair at Find a Grave