[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S6839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JAMES BURTON BLAIR

 Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, today I honor a man who has given so 
much of himself to public service, the State of Arkansas and the legal 
community.
  In 1957, James Burton (Jim) Blair was admitted to practice law in 
Arkansas. A successful attorney, he was the only general counsel that 
Tyson Foods had in the 20th century as the company grew from a regional 
poultry company to the second largest food producer in the Fortune 500.
  Jim Blair has shared his success with contributions to his lifelong 
hometown of Fayetteville, The University of Arkansas, and the State 
that we both call home. He has contributed to the education of others 
by establishing funds and chairs at the University of Arkansas. He gave 
the largest private gift ever given to a public library in Arkansas; 
the new Fayetteville Public Library is named The Blair Library in 
memory of Jim's late wife Diane Divers Blair, his grandmother Bessie 
Motley Blair and his aunt Dr. Mary Grace Blair. A patron of the arts, 
Jim established a sculpture room at the Walton Arts Center, donated the 
Anita Huffington sculpture ``Spring'' to the University of Arkansas and 
also donated the Huffington sculpture ``Earth'' to the Arkansas Arts 
Center in Little Rock.
  Jim Blair also has a passion for politics and public service. He was 
a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1968, 1972, and 
1980. He served as campaign manager of Senator William J. Fulbright's 
1974 reelection campaign, was vice president of the Clinton for 
President Committee 1992 and is listed in ``Who's Who in American 
Politics.''
  Jim served for 10 years on the University of Arkansas Board of 
Trustees, including 2 years as chairman. He also served for 9 years on 
the Arkansas Board of Higher Education, with 1 year as chairman. These 
days Jim continues his public service by serving on the Fayetteville 
Educational Foundation Board, the Fayetteville Public Library Board, 
the Tyson Family Foundation Board, the Arkansas Tennis Association 
Board and the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation.
  Mr. President, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating 
James Burton (Jim) Blair on his 50th anniversary in the legal 
profession and many philanthropic contributions to Arkansas.

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