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Dr A Blair Helman
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Birth: Dec. 25, 1920
Windber
Somerset County
Pennsylvania, USA
Death: Mar. 22, 2009
North Manchester
Wabash County
Indiana, USA
Columbus Republic 24 Mar 2009
Dr. A. Blair Helman
North Manchester
Dr. A. Blair Helman, 88, of North Manchester died at 12:50 a.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009, at Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester.
He was born on Christmas Day, 1920, in Windber, Pa., to Henry and Luie Pritt Helman. On June 22, 1947, he married Patricia Kennedy. She preceded him in death Oct. 28, 2005.
Dr. Helman graduated from Windber High School. Following high school he worked as a coal miner for the Berwind-White Coal Mining Co. for three years to help support his family before he was able to attend college. He then enrolled at Bethany Bible Training School in Chicago and went on to complete his college degree at McPherson College, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. His master's and doctoral studies were conducted at University of Kansas.
He was pastor of three Church of the Brethren congregations in Kansas during those years, in Newton, Ottawa and Wichita.
In 1956 he was named president of Manchester College at the age of 35. During his 30-year tenure, he started Brethren Colleges Abroad Program, put emphasis on International Peace Program, and was instrumental in adding 16 buildings to the campus. His passion for international study led him to travel to more than 30 countries.
He received five honorary doctoral degrees, from Indiana University, Manchester College, Bridgewater College, McPherson College and Juniata College. Among the many honors he received were the Indiana Academy in 1987, which is limited to 100 living members; Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest award the governor of Indiana can bestow; the Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International Foundation, Award for dedication to Indiana higher education.
Some of Dr. Helman's offices and board appointments include, Commission on Arms Control Education from United Nations, board of directors for National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; president of Indiana Conference of Higher Education; chairman and interim president of Council of Protestant Colleges and Universities; president of Associated Colleges of Indiana and the president's advisory committee for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); policy board of Department of Higher Education, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and moderator of Church of the Brethren, the highest elective office in the denomination.
After retirement, the Helmans lived in Fort Wayne, where Dr. Helman was a member of Fort Wayne Downtown Rotary Club and Quest Club. He was a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren.
In his personal life, his greatest joy was seen in his relationships with family and friends, especially his grandchildren.
He is survived by two daughters, Bunny Hill (Patrick) of Wichita, Kan., and Patty Magaro (Raymond) of Columbus; grandchildren, Hamilton, Harrison and Katie Hill and Matthew and Marshall Magaro; a brother and two sisters, Robert Helman, Leah Levin and Luella Edeline.
The funeral will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Cordier Auditorium, Manchester College, with Pastor Kurt Borgmann and Dr. Jo Young Switzer officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
Private burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery in North Manchester.
Arrangements were made by McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester.
For those who wish to honor the memory of Dr. A. Blair Helman, memorial contributions may be made to Presidential Leadership Awards/A. Blair and Patricia Helman Honor Scholarships, Manchester College, 604 E. College Ave., North Manchester, IN 46962; the A. Blair and Patricia Kennedy Helman Charitable Endowment, in care of Community Foundation of Wabash County, P.O. Box 98, North Manchester, IN 46962; or Columbus Sunrise Rotary Club, Polio Plus, P.O. Box 1465, Columbus, IN 47202, with checks made payable to Rotary Foundation.
Family links:
Spouse:
Patricia Kennedy Helman (1925 - 2005)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Oaklawn Cemetery
North Manchester
Wabash County
Indiana, USA
Created by: Mark E. Wirey
Record added: Apr 26, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 36404947
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1920 - 2009 (88 years)