Jackson L. Blanton

BLANTON, Jackson L., Jackson L. Blanton, 81, died January 7, 2024 in North Palm Beach, Florida.

He was born in Richmond and grew up at his family home, Tamworth, near Cartersville in Cumberland County. He attended Cumberland High School where he graduated as class president and valedictorian in 1960. He matriculated at the University of Virginia in the School of Architecture. He later moved to the McIntire School of Commerce where he double majored in Finance and Accounting. He graduated with a B.S. in Commerce in 1964. He is a graduate of the National Graduate Trust School, Northwestern University and the School for International Banking, University of Colorado. He holds an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Randolph-Macon College, Ashland.

Following graduation from U.Va. in 1964, his service at the Federal Reserve was varied and eventful. He worked in banking supervision and regulation and was responsible for the Fifth Federal Reserve District's risk management functions. He was detailed to the System's Board of Governors in Washington where he developed protocols for the supervision of bank holding companies Systemwide. His assignments included postings in London and Tokyo. In the latter assignment he found time to climb Mount Fuji.

He was in charge of the Fifth Federal Reserve District's Community Affairs outreach. In this capacity he promoted the growth of small businesses and edited the widely acclaimed economic development magazine MARKETWISE. These activities led to his appointment as chair of numerous programs involving all of the System's Community Affairs Officers.

At the behest of Chairman Arthur Burns in 1975 he developed the initial Fine Arts Program at the Board of Governors in Washington. The success of this effort led to his appointment as director and curator of the Richmond Fed's acclaimed fine arts collection.

He retired from the Fed in 2003.

Mr. Blanton's civic activities included, among others:

Trustee and Executive Committee member, First Freedom Center (First Amendment)

Chair, Advisory Board, Longwood University Center for the Visual Arts

President, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Collectors Circle

Chair, City of Richmond Public Art Commission

Board of Directors, Richmond SPCA

Board of Directors, Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts

In his "spare" time Jack became an accomplished culinarian. Dinners at Jack's were eagerly anticipated and long remembered.

In recognition of his tireless efforts to promote an appreciation of the fine arts in Virginia and beyond, Longwood University in 2009 opened the Jack Blanton Gallery in its new Center for Communication Studies. Longwood is planning to develop the Jack Blanton Sculpture Garden to adjoin gallery space for his paintings and antique silver in the University Rotunda.

Mr. Blanton was predeceased by his parents, Marion Eldridge Blanton, Jr. and Charlotte Turner Blanton of Tamworth. He is survived by his brother, M. Eldridge Blanton, III (Dr. Erika M.) and his niece, Charlotte Nicole Blanton (Jaimison D. Schellenger). He is also survived by numerous cousins in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. Finally, he is survived by his beloved Dachshund, Gina. She and all of us will miss him greatly. But none more than Bobby, Billy, Dickie and El who with Jack gathered every summer to build treehouses, claim rights to the elusive uranium mine, learn to drive on the farm's tractor and do all those things boys in the country do.

The family would like to express their special thanks to Tommy Shaheen for his devotion to Jack during his final days.

A memorial service is planned for a later date.