Jim Tom Blair III

(1931 - 2010)

Jim Tom Blair III as a golfer was one of a kind.  He was talented, ostentatious, sensitive, profane and a friend of the game of golf.  His father, James T. Blair, Jr.,  became the mayor of Jefferson City in 1947 and then served as the Lieutenant Governor of Missouri between 1949 and 1957 and as the Governor between 1957 - 1961.  Jim Tom attended Jefferson City High School during this time and won the Missouri state high school golf tournament in 1948.  He attended Oklahoma State (then A&M) and played on the golf team.  Blair won the Missouri Amateur in 1952 and 1955 and was runner-up on four other occasions during the 1950’s.  He won the Phil Cotton Invitational in Columbia three times during the 1960’s.  Jim Tom lived in the St. Louis area after 1961.

During the 1950’s he toured the midwest, putting on golf exhibitions of his skill and power.  At the time, when a long drive was 250 yards, Jim Tom was regularly driving it over 300.  He claimed to have played the entire 1952 season without three putting.  The following three Missouri Amateur episodes epitomize his “bigger than life” quality.  One down after 15 to Brick Imboden in 1951, Blair went eagle, eagle (ace), birdie to win 2 up.  In 1955, he was in the last qualifying spot after surviving a 12 for 9 playoff.  He then won six matches, including beating three former champions, to win the tournament.  Even in defeat Blair was spectacular.  He lost the 1957 final match to Bill Stewart (Payne’s dad) by blowing a dormie two situation.  Stewart was forced to birdie five holes in a row to win on the 39th hole.