From being a voice for abused or neglected children in the local court system through the Guardian ad Litem program, to helping displaced families in need with the non-profit Mercy Support Services, to ministering to prisoners in the Clay County jail through his church, Steven Blair’s taken the values demonstrated by his parents into the communities he has lived, from Italy to Tennessee.

Blair’s glad his strict upbringing taught him to (usually) listen to adults, especially when their input helped shape his life. Like when he was doing poorly in school and his mom, knowing he loved to work with tools, got him into auto mechanics vocational school where he flourished, learning everything from how batteries work to overhauling engines. This prompted him to pursue his love of jet airplanes and wanting to keep them flying by joining the Air Force. It was his girlfriend’s dad, an Army major, who made sure he got into his desired area by telling him to, “Make sure whatever they promise you is in writing,” Blair said, who waited until he could go to jet engine school and got it in writing.

Blair served six years as active military and was part of the Vietnam War’s “operation baby-lift” after Saigon fell, bringing and processing south Vietnamese citizens to the Philippines to help them survive. Retiring in 1978 as an E-5 Staff Sergeant, he went on to four more years with the Air National Guard, repaired aircraft at a small facility for a bit, then joined FedEx moving initially to Memphis, TN. He’s lived as far away as Italy with FedEx, enjoying 34 years as an aircraft maintenance technician all-the-while active in church and helping his neighborhoods with various outreach efforts, from trash clean-up to driving the elderly to doctor’s appointments.

“The purpose of church is to help the community and bring folks closer together by showing that somebody cares,” said Blair. “Just seeing the expression on their faces is always gratifying.”

Tall, with still-boyish good looks and playfulness in his blue eyes, like most in their early years, growing pains and self-examination following lessons learned ultimately has made him a better “server” to others.

Blair credits learning about honesty at an early age from his parents because in a family with so many blabber-mouth siblings, mom or dad would figure out what happened anyway, and it wasn’t worth getting into more trouble.

His high school basketball coach taught him to not make excuses, but to take responsibility for his actions. One afternoon during practice, the ball was passed to him and he missed it. The coach stopped everything and slowly walked up to Blair asking, "So, what's your excuse this time, Blair?"

“I suddenly realized that I always had a reason for why something happened to me, never looking at the fact that it was me,” said Blair. When Blair responded, "No reason, I just missed the ball," and the coach said, "No Blair, you always have an excuse,” it was the eye opener he needed to start taking responsibility for his actions.

More than a decade later while repairing aircraft, he would learn from a co-worker that his way was not always the best way and it usually helpful to listen to other’s ideas. One of his least-favorite tasks involved removing a bunch of clamped lines individually and putting them correctly back together, which he mentioned to another mechanic. When the co-worker said that taking off all the lines wasn’t necessary, Blair came back with, “Yes, you do.”

“After he went back to work, I realized I didn't give him a chance to tell me his way, apologized, and asked him to show me what he was talking about,” said Blair. “Yet, he insisted that it was obvious to him that my way was the only way and let me press on with taking all the lines and clamps off and then putting the puzzle back together.” After they were done, Blair asked again and this time, he shared and Blair learned his way was a lot easier. “Another life lesson to hear people out before counting them out,” which could potentially save time and avoid headaches.

Later, working for Federal Express, he learned about how acceptance and attitude play a huge role in happiness in life. A fellow co-worker was towing an airplane, got knocked off onto the ground and the aircraft ran over his leg severing it. When his friend had to have his leg removed from the hip, Blair asked him, “Did you ever question, ‘Why me?’” His friend replied, “No, because it was me.” Accepting such a poignant situation from day one was a remarkable example.

Blair has been married to his best friend and sweetheart, J.B., for 43 years, and has taught his two kids, and now six grandchildren, these life lessons and a lot more.

Even their rescue mutt, Bella, helps lighten people’s load entertaining the folks at Lifecare Rehabilitation Center at Wells Crossing. It all began four years ago when Blair took her to cheer up a neighbor recovering there with her tricks and, suddenly, they were surrounded by wheelchaired folks wanting to see her perform. This became a weekly habit that both Bella and the residents look forward to.

“I help simply because I enjoy seeing the results and know that one day it could be me,” said Blair. Now, he’s the good example for others to follow.