BRYANT BLACKBURN Jr.

BRYANT BLACKBURN JR. Bryant Eugene Blackburn Jr., 56, passed away suddenly Thursday, May 10, 2012 after going into cardiac arrest at his home in Las Vegas (Summerlin). Bryant was an award-winning videographer. He was born at UCLA Hospital in Los Angeles (Westwood), Feb. 7, 1956, the first-born child of Bryant Eugene Blackburn Sr. and Barbara Ann (Leonard) Blackburn. The family moved to Las Vegas when Bryant was just a toddler, to help treat Bryant's childhood asthma. Bryant attended Clark County Schools for 1st through 12th grade, graduating from Vo-Tech in 1974 having majored in Television Communications. Bryant was immensely proud of the role he played in the Vo-Tech Road Runners basketball team making it to the state championship in 1974. After graduation, Bryant worked as a cameraman at KVBC Channel 3, moving to KLAS in 1977 where he worked for more than 16 years first as a cameraman, then as producer/director of "PM Magazine," and ultimately taking on the role of Chief News Photographer. Bryant won many awards for his news work, and was especially proud of the work he did with his dear friend, George Knapp. Following his work at KLAS Channel 8, Bryant freelanced extensively and in the early 1990s, accepted a full time position with Barrett Productions based in Cody, Wyo., and later, Missoula, Mont. The work Bryant did for his friend and colleague, John Barrett, was the most exciting of his career, taking him to Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Antarctica and many other exotic locales, often in the company of celebrities. Bryant filled three passports in 16 years. Bryant survived a brain aneurysm and brain surgery a week before his 50th birthday in 2006, and the strenuous work had to be curtailed, but he was still able to do the camerawork he loved when he returned to the freelance work-world of Las Vegas in 2009. Bryant was tragically preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Brandee Blackburn. Bryant is survived by his daughter, Tia Blackburn of Las Vegas and Newport Beach, Calif; parents, Barbara (Leonard) Bowman of Tracy, Calif., and Bryant Sr. of Pioche; siblings, Kenneth Blackburn of Fernley; Pamela Hancock of St. Louis; and Ron Bowman (and his wife, Erin) of Seattle. We are hoping that Bryant's well-traveled television friends and colleagues will assist us in spreading his remains over the four corners of the world while they pursue the work he loved. Bryant did not want a service. He felt strongly that attention should be paid, and flowers should be sent, to the living. Memories and condolences may be shared at http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/BryantEBlackburnJr/homepage.aspx Also on his public Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/bryant.blackburn.31