2 ▁– ▁ 1 9 8 4 ), ▁was ▁a ▁zo ologist ▁and ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁E colog ical ▁Society ▁of ▁America . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Bla ir ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Day ton , ▁Texas . ▁He ▁took ▁his ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁zo ology ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Tul sa , ▁Oklahoma , ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 . ▁He ▁gained ▁his ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Florida ▁the ▁following ▁year , ▁and ▁completed ▁his ▁doctor ate ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Michigan ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 8 . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁He ▁began ▁to ▁work ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Michigan ' s ▁Labor atory ▁of ▁Ver te br ate ▁Bi ology ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 7 , ▁and ▁then ▁did ▁military ▁service ▁in ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁Alt itude ▁Training ▁and ▁Sur v ival ▁programs ▁during ▁the ▁war , ▁returning ▁to ▁Michigan ▁afterwards . ▁Bla ir ▁became ▁professor ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Texas ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 5 . ▁ ▁Works ▁▁ ▁Ver te br ates ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁( le ad ▁author ). ▁ 2 nd ▁Edition , ▁McG raw ▁Hill , ▁ 1 9 6 8 . ▁ ▁Leg acy ▁ ▁He ▁is ▁comm emor ated ▁by ▁the ▁W . ▁Frank ▁Bla ir ▁E min ent ▁Natural ist ▁Award . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : American ▁zo olog ists ▁Category : American ▁e colog ists ▁Category : 1 9 1 2 ▁birth s ▁Category : 1 9 8 4 ▁death