[1] Blaylock experienced a series of health problems throughout his life, including a heart attack in 1980 and multiple types of cancer.
[1] On October 23, 1996, Blaylock was driving to Missoula, Montana, for a scheduled debate the following night, when he fell ill from another heart attack near Deer Lodge.
On April 6, 1997, Fifty-fifth Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana officially recognized in the Senate Journal the passing of Chet Blaylock: " WHEREAS, it is with deep and sincere sorrow that the members of the Senate of the Fifty-fifth Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana record the passing of Chet Blaylock on October 23, 1996.
He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education, a livable environment, a good job and affordable health care.
Recipients must be a full-time student enrolled for a minimum of 15 credits per semester; a graduate of a Montana high school; a Montana resident; have a high school GPA of 3.5 or above, university GPA of 3.25 or above; two letters of recommendation; and must be a student who shows "promise in a chosen field".