9 Crittenden Blair

Crittenden Blair was born Crittenden D. Blair in Fleming County, Kentucky, on August 21, 1908, to Harrison “Harry” Crittenden Blair and Ida M. Harvin Blair. A native Kentuckian, Crittenden Blair played basketball for the Wildcats during the 1930s.

Blair graduated from the University of Kentucky on May 6, 1934 with a bachelor of arts in education degree.  While there, he earned a varsity letter in basketball under Coach Adolph Rupp. Blair was part of the program during the early years of legendary head coach Adolph Rupp’s tenure, a period marked by rapid development and rising prominence for Kentucky basketball.  He served in a supporting role on squads that were building the foundation of what would become one of college basketball’s most storied programs.  He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

In March of 1941, Blair entered the U.S. Army at Camp Lee, Va. During World War II, he served in England, France, and Germany as commander of the 536th Quartermaster group. Retiring from active duty in 1945, he subsequently went into the U.S. Army Reserves and attained the rank of colonel.

A 1950 graduate of the University of Louisville College of Dentistry, Dr. Blair conducted his practice in dentistry in Flemingsburg for 27 years. He was instrumental in bringing the Randall Textron Manufacturing Company and the U.S. Shoe Corporation to Flemingsburg and served as chairman of the Fleming County Board of Education for 22 years.

Although Crittenden Blair did not achieve individual stardom, his contributions were emblematic of the selfless and hard-working players who laid the groundwork for Kentucky’s future success. His role in this formative chapter of UK basketball history reflects the deep tradition of pride and performance that continues to define the program.

Blair died Friday, May 6, 1994, at the Pioneer Trace Nursing Home in Flemingsburg, at 85.