After Life of Service, Donors Set Up Scholarship in Son’s Name

Bob Blair has spent his life in public service.

Born and raised in Omaha, Bob spent 14 years in Nebraska state and local government before joining the University of Nebraska at Omaha, serving as a researcher at the Center for Public Affairs Research and retiring as a professor of public administration and urban studies after 31 years.

“Being a baby boomer and somebody who grew up in turbulent times, I wanted to give back to society,” Bob said.

A Burnett Society member, Bob received his master’s degree at UNO and his doctorate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“My folks did not have a college education,” Bob said. “They were a wartime family, and my father was a blue-collar worker. Education was incredibly important to my folks. I have two sisters and a brother, and all four of us are graduates of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.”

Bob’s wife, Barbara, was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, and also has a degree from UNL.

“Our roots in Nebraska are very, very deep,” Bob said.

Bob Blair has spent his life in public service.

Born and raised in Omaha, Bob spent 14 years in Nebraska state and local government before joining the University of Nebraska at Omaha, serving as a researcher at the Center for Public Affairs Research and retiring as a professor of public administration and urban studies after 31 years.

“Being a baby boomer and somebody who grew up in turbulent times, I wanted to give back to society,” Bob said.

A Burnett Society member, Bob received his master’s degree at UNO and his doctorate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“My folks did not have a college education,” Bob said. “They were a wartime family, and my father was a blue-collar worker. Education was incredibly important to my folks. I have two sisters and a brother, and all four of us are graduates of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.”

Bob’s wife, Barbara, was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, and also has a degree from UNL.

“Our roots in Nebraska are very, very deep,” Bob said.

After establishing the scholarship, Bob and Barbara worked with the foundation to add to their scholarship fund through their estate plans as well as to establish a separate fund supporting KVNO, the classical music station on UNO’s campus.

“We’re not big, big donors, but I think what we do comes completely from the heart,” Bob said. “And it’s something that we feel very strongly about. So even though it’s not a big amount, it’s still an important amount.”