Philip Arnold Blair

Blair, Philip Arnold
Philip Arnold Blair passed peacefully into eternal life on September 4, 2011 after a valiant struggle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). A native of Phoenix, Phil was born on February 3, 1934 and was the oldest son of Oscar A. and Dorothy Arnold Blair. He was the grandson of Phoenix pioneers W.P. and Bessie Lola Arnold, founders of the Arnold Pickle & Olive Company, started in 1905 in downtown Phoenix. Phil attended Creighton Elementary and North High School. He received his BS in 1955 from Colorado A & M and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1959 from Colorado State University. He began his veterinary career in Broken Bow, Nebraska. From 1964 through 1977 he was partner at the Casa Grande Animal Hospital. In 1977, he fulfilled one of his life-long dreams and began farming in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado. Phil returned to Arizona in 1987 to manage the Arnold Pickle & Olive Co., the place where he had originally developed his work ethic while building pickle crates at the age of 8. He then began his position as Assistant State Veterinarian with the Arizona Department of Agriculture in 1997, a perfect job for a man known and trusted by the Arizona livestock industry. Phil was an ardent volunteer, always believing in the responsibility of giving back to the profession and the state that he loved so much. He was past president of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. He was a past director of the Board of the Western Veterinary Conference and participated in the American Veterinary Medical Association. He was president of the Van Buren Civic Association, and a member of the City of Phoenix Planning and Zoning Committee. He served as a commissioner for the Transit 2000 Steering Committee, playing a large role in the development of the light rail in Phoenix. He was president of the East Lake Park Neighborhood Association and on the advisory committee for Gateway Community College. He also enjoyed serving on the board for the Western Saddle Club. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, younger brother Charles "Chuck" Blair, stepson Brad Pratt and first wife Maxine Fjeld Blair. He is survived by wife Judy Honeycutt Blair, three daughters Julie Blair, Kathleen Roberts and Trisha Sweeney, niece Kelly Blair Brassfield, and stepson Bryan Pratt. He loved his grandchildren Lindsey, Douglas, Blair, Kyle, Steven, Jessica, and Tanner and great grandchildren Aidan, Cadence, and Riley. Just like Will Rogers, Phil never met a man he didn't like. He will be greatly missed as a mentor and friend to many. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The MDS Foundation, 4573 South Broad Street, Suite 150, Yardville, New Jersey 08620; www.mds-foundation.org/donate or the Western Veterinary Conference Student Scholarship foundation, PO Box 50755, Henderson, NV 89016; wvc.org. Arrangements entrusted to Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary www.greenwoodmemorylawn.com.