Pierce Community Mourns Passing of Retired Professor Homer O. Blair

It is with great sadness that Franklin Pierce Law Center notes the passing of Homer O. Blair, retired professor and first David Rines Professor of Intellectual Property Law and Industrial Innovation.

A force in, and consistently at the forefront of, intellectual property law, its application and education, he was, in the words of Professor Bill Hennessey, "not a Founder," of Franklin Pierce Law Center, "but in many significant ways, this school's chronology can be described 'BHB' and 'AHB' ('before Homer Blair' and 'after Homer Blair') and not just for IP!"

Michelle Lando, JD '90 and adjunct professor of Technology Licensing and IP Management, sat under Blair for two courses in his last year teaching. She recalls, "As a second year law student, I was always struck by the tremendous depth of his knowledge and his extensive career in corporate practice.  His love of the law and the legal profession was contagious...no matter where you were or who you met, everyone knew Homer Blair. His example has served as a guide through my career."

When Blair arrived on the Pierce Law campus, he carried with him degrees in chemistry, physics and law from the University of Washington, Seattle, and decades of experience in patent, trademark, licensing and technology transfer.  He had worked in patent departments of Westinghouse Electric, Boeing, Kaiser Aluminum and Celanese Corporation and had been vice president, Patents and Licensing, for Itek Corporation for 19 years.

A strong proponent of international understanding of intellectual property law, he served on US government committees, six US delegations to the United Nations, and he was a consultant to the UN.  He was president of the Licensing Executives Society USA/Canada and president of the International Trademark Association, the only person to have ever held both positions. 

Blair's desire to spread international understanding of intellectual property led to the creation of the graduate programs in intellectual property at Pierce Law, programs that continue to attract students, especially from developing economies.  The school presently counts alumni from 85 nations.

Memorial services are to be held Thursday, December 17, in his hometown of San Angelo, Texas; for information or to reach the family, please contact Laura Chaney, (603) 513-5181, lchaney@piercelaw.edu.