The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame
A four-year starter for the Citadel baseball team from 1980-83, Blair excelled at both shortstop and second base, leaving an indelible mark on the program's history. His leadership was pivotal, serving as team captain for the nationally ranked Southern Conference Champion teams in 1982 and 1983, both of which advanced to the Eastern Regionals.
Notably, Blair finished his career a two-time first-team Academic All-American, a singular achievement as the only baseball player in The Citadel history to earn this distinction twice, securing the most votes nationwide on the 1983 ballot. Throughout his collegiate career, Blair consistently demonstrated offensive firepower, graduating as the career leader in runs scored, walks, triples and stolen bases. A South Carolina first-team All-State choice, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in June 1983, where he played professionally from 1983 to 1987.
Academically, Blair earned Gold Stars every semester at The Citadel, graduating second in his class with a B.S. in Business Administration. He racked up a number of academic accolades during his time as a Bulldogs, including membership in the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, the Economic Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Additionally, he received the prestigious President's Award, given to the student who "most exemplifies The Citadel on and off the field." Further underscoring his academic distinction, Blair was awarded a Rhodes Scholar equivalent scholarship by the St. Andrew's Society to attend the University of Edinburgh. He also served as the Regimental Religious Officer and was Chairman of The Citadel United Way Campaign.
Beyond his time at The Citadel, Blair's professional and community contributions have been substantial. He rose through the ranks at E. John Schmitz & Sons, Inc., serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer before being appointed to the Board of Directors in 1993 and ultimately becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2008. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to community in his roles as Director at Greenspring Wealth Management, Trustee for the Graphic Arts Benefit Corporation and Calvert Hall College High School and Co-Founder and Treasurer of the Cardinal Diamond Foundation. He also founded and serves as a Trustee and founder for the William E. Blair Foundation. Born on January 23, 1961, in Baltimore, Md., Blair has been happily married to Joyce Janowiak since 1985, with whom he has two children, Alexis and Spencer.
