[2] Following his second term in the General Assembly, Blair left politics to focus on his private law practice until his service in World War II.

[5] As governor, Blair was known as a civil rights advocate, declaring to the General Assembly Always and everywhere I will identify myself with any victim of oppression or discrimination...and I will support him.

At the time Missouri law prohibited a second consecutive term as governor, leading to Blair's retirement from politics after leaving office in January 1961.

On July 12, 1962, Blair and his wife were found dead in their suburban Jefferson City home due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Investigators theorized the home's central air conditioning system sucked in exhaust fumes from a vehicle accidentally left running in the garage.