Jimmy Don Blair

Jimmy Don Blair originated in the Texas Panhandle, born in Borger to Myrtle (Ervin) Blair and Floyd Oscar Blair on September 27, 1941 and raised in the J. M. Huber oil camp where his father worked. He declared his belief in Jesus Christ early in his life and was baptized simultaneously with his Mother. The Lord called him home in the early morning hours of January 3, 2023, and he peacefully accepted.

His family had been Oklahoma Sooners during the historic Dust Bowl, and Jimmy Don spent his youth helping at his uncle’s Oklahoma farm driving tractors, taming horses, herding cattle, and working fields. Yet, he also traveled with his parents on Huber-related work trips to see much of the U. S. as a cherished only child in the family. He attended public school in Borger, was President of his senior class, and voted “Mr. Borger High”. Jim remained a dedicated Borger Bulldog from his feats on the football field to emceeing the Class of 1960 reunions for over 50 years.

Jim graduated from Oklahoma University intending to become a doctor, but changed his mind at senior year. Instead, he earned a pilot’s license and flew himself to the University of Texas law school to become an attorney. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967. Jim maintained that, during the 7 years he spent in college, never was he on the winning side during the annual TU/OU football game.

In his early career, Jim served as Amarillo Assistant City Attorney, Amarillo City Judge, Randall County Assistant District Attorney, and as a lecturer for Tax Assessor and School Board organizations all over Texas. He formed a side business law firm with three other assistant city attorneys to perform services seriously needed by local governments, collecting their delinquent property taxes. He acquired his first government client in White Deer, Texas, and grew the firm from his Cessna airplane, flying to clients around the Texas Panhandle. Over the next 40 years, Jim Blair became a virtual expert in contract negotiation, litigation policies, legislative initiatives, computer capabilities, and above all personal relationships. Those who collaborated with him, worked for his firms, became his clients or simply met him in the community felt the genuine and supportive effect he had on lives and livelihoods.

In the 1980’s, Jim moved to Houston with the ambitious goal of expanding his tax collection law partnership, successfully acquiring Houston Independent School District as a client, a contract which would remain one of their most productive to this day. Over the ensuing decades, the law firm split, merged, morphed and grew into what is today Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson or simply “Linebarger”. As a Founding Capital Partner, Jim Blair retired to become a Senior Advisor in 2006.

Jim Blair is most widely known for his God-given gifts of big thinking, huge heart and overwhelming generosity, traits unmistakably evidenced by his success in all endeavors, and his spur-of-the-moment willingness to offer his grand home, his classic car, his antique boat, his office assets, his contacts, and especially his wallet for any cause in need. A lover of all things political, he has been a dedicated supporter, mentor and friend to hundreds of public servants, including local, state and national. He was a proud graduate of Leadership Montgomery County and was named a Hometown Hero of The Woodlands. Stories abound all over Texas of Jim’s immeasurable charitable involvements, but some that touched him most were the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society through Jerry Eversole Golf Tournament, Hurricane Ike Relief Fund Committee where he personally fought government red tape for desperate Southeast Texas families, Lone Star College and Conroe ISD Education Foundation where he endowed a scholarship and served as board member based on his belief in the value of his own education, Interfaith of The Woodlands and Interfaith Community Clinic where his heart bled for people in need, Elm Grove Church in Mabank which is a miracle story in itself, and Montgomery County Food Bank Board where the thought of food insecure children spurred him to revitalize the “Backpack Buddy” Program.

Jimmy married twice during his earlier years living in Amarillo. The first gave him a precious and beloved daughter, Maris Ann Blair whom he raised on his own during much of her life. After his move to Houston, Jim met, pursued, charmed and wed Nelda Luce Blair, with whom he would share homes, offices, family members and a very full life based in The Woodlands with an outpost in South Padre Island for 35 years. His father Floyd Blair, mother “Mom Blair”, aunt Annie Mae “Dutch” Robertson, uncle Aurrel “Pa” Robertson, father-in-law W. T. “Wimpy” Luce, and mother-in-law Sue Luce all met him in Heaven. Survivors include his wife Nelda Luce Blair, daughter Maris Blair and son-in-law David Hall of The Woodlands, sister-in-law Kimberly Luce Dollar of San Marcos, nephews and nieces Evan Wilkerson and Jessie Bethke of San Marcos, Isaac Wilkerson and Cheyenne Apperson of New Braunfels, Danielle Dollar and Ross Dollar of The Woodlands, step-grandchildren Jeremy Hall and wife Ruby Tellez Hall of Spring, and Lauren Hall Gaines and husband Chris Gaines of Blacksburg, Virginia, plus a host of dear friends and extended family.

Special thanks to the numerous medical professionals over many years whose extraordinary expertise, care, persistence and friendship, in combination with God’s blessing of super genes, helped maintain Jim Blair to an incredible 81 years. Drs. Vince Aquino, Peter Shedden, Kip Saunders, Ramesh Hariharan, Anna Gonzales, Brian Chimenti, Adam Frome, Jessica Brown, Jimmy Field, Ather Siddiqui, Annie Thomas, and Barry Neeland, to name just a few miracle workers.

Jim Blair was always very grateful for the blessed life he lived. He was also acutely aware of the decisions he made for his own final care and peaceful entry into Heaven. Abundant flowers are planned for his services, so Jim desired that his passing benefit the Montgomery County Food Bank “Backpack Buddy” program to avoid hunger for children in our own community. #1 Food for Life Way, Conroe, Texas 77385 or www.mcfoodbank.org.

All are invited to these events or any portion as you are able to attend.

EVENTS HONORING THE BLESSED LIFE OF JIM BLAIR.

All events are scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2023:

1:00 p.m. Christian Service & Celebration of Life at The Woodlands First Baptist Church (Main Sanctuary), 11801 Grogans Mill Rd., The Woodlands, TX 77380.

3:00-5:00 p.m. Fellowship Reception in The Great Hall of The Woodlands First Baptist Church, next to the Main Sanctuary.

5:00-8:00 p.m. A "Jim Blair Style" Come & Go As You Wish Gathering to share our mutual love, appreciation and (of course) stories of The Man and his life, including (of course) fine food & drink. - Amerigo's Grille, 25250 Grogans Park Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77380.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the Blair family.