Remembering Jim Tom Blair (1931-2010) 
Jim Tom Blair was an insurance executive and one of the great amateur golfers in Missouri, known as part of the "Big Three" from the late 1940's through late 1960's. The other two of that triumvirate were Bob Cochran and Jimmy Jackson.
Blair was the son of the late Missouri Governor James Blair, who served in office from 1957 to 1961. He served on the Missouri Conservation Commission.
During the nine year stretch of 1951-1959 Blair was in the finals of the Missouri State Amateur six times, winning twice in 1952 and 1955. He won the St. Louis District Championship three times, in three different decades (1958, 1969 and 1970).
Blair competed in three British Amateurs (1972, 74 and 75); 11 US Amateurs and 8 US Opens. In 1965, after taking some time off from the game following the death of his parents in 1962, his wife Myrna convinced Jim Tom to attempt to qualify for the 1965 US Open which was coming to St. Louis at Bellerive CC that summer. After spending a month in Florida practicing his game, Blair participated in the Qualifying for 2 available spots in the US Open. Playing with Sunset CC pro Jim Fogertey, he earned one of the 2 spots to play in the US Open in his hometown.
He also participate in many professional events. Winning the New Orleans Invitational and Fort Smith (AR) Hardscrapple Open. In 1956 he played in the Phoenix Open, a PGA Tour event. After 36 holes, he found himself in the lead and paired with Cary Middlecoff the next day. After three rounds, Blair was still one-shot ahead of the field. At the par 3 15th, Blair hit his tee shot into the water in front of the putting green and would end his chances of winning.
Leland Gibson, his coach from Kansas City, had walked the final 36 holes with Blair and Middlecoff stopped at Blair's locker after the round. He told Blair, "Well junior, when you quite feeling sorry for yourself, remember you went out there with the last foursome on Sunday and put 70 on the board. Most amateurs I know would have shot 80! So you've got nothing to be ashamed of."
Blair was a member, at one time or another, of Old Warson Country Club, Norwood Hills Country Club, Meadowbrook Country Club, Greenbriar Hills Country Club and Jefferson City Country Club. In his later years, he could be found on the range giving out free advice to other members at his clubs.
In the past couple days we have received many emails with kind wishes toward the Blair family. The following is a short story from Jim Magruder, former Norwood Hills CC member, on his remembering Blair on the range at Norwood HIlls CC.
"He truly epitomized what we all strive for in the game of golf. Living down south, I have told countless times the story of Jim Tom "working the tee" at Norwood Hills. The disease had taken his game but not his passion and he loved giving free advice. One day, in my endless effort to "find it", I asked J.T. to take a look at what I was working on. I absolutely "pured" about 5 shots in a row and, with great pride, turned to Jim Tom and asked what he thought. Jim Tom hesitated only for a moment and then said "Son, that will linger but it won't last." Sadly, he was correct."
Blair was a founding member of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association in 1992 and was awarded the Association's Meritorious Service Award in 2003. He served on the Board of the Western Golf Association, which promotes the Evans Scholar Program. It is written, he is likely the only WGA Board member to have actually competed against it's namesake, Chick Evans, in a competitive round. In 2001, he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, joining the rest of the "Big Three."
JIm Tom Blair is survived by his wife Myrna; a daughter Carolyn Nichols of Chicago; two sons, Mike Blair of Town & Country, MO and Jim Blair IV of Frontenac; and six grandchildren.
Again, thank you to Jim Healey for providing pictures and information on the career of Jim Tom Blair and allowing MAGA to utilize this information to honor him here on our website.