June 27, 2007

Blair Lavell

 Blair Lavell, 79, of Rising Sun, Md. died June 14 in Elkton, Md. after a brief illness. A celebration of Mr. Lavell's life will be held at the Texas State Railroad July 7.

Mr. Lavell was born in Tulsa Okla. Oct. 4, 1927, the son of the late Edward and Beryl Blair Lavell. A tireless advocate and supporter of steam locomotive preservation, Mr. Lavell retired in 2002 after working 26 years as shop superintendent of the Texas State Railroad. Prior to that, he helped establish the Texas Export Railroad Company, a tourist attraction in the Fort Worth area, and was instrumental in the restoration of the Texas and Pacific 610 steam locomotive, which pulled the Freedom Train throughout Texas during the Bicentennial Celebration.

Through his efforts, the 610 became a permanent exhibit of the TSR. On Aug. 18, 1989, the locomotive became the 92nd landmark to be designated a National Historic Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

During his tenure at the TSR Mr. Lavell participated in the production of and made appearances in several television features and movies that utilized the locomotives. Since moving to Maryland, he assisted with the model railroad exhibit at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pa. He recently became a member of the Rising Sun Historical Commission, for which he helped organize the artifacts in preparation for the recent opening of the Rising Sun Historical Museum.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Helen Meyer Lavell of Rising Sun; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Lee and Lynn Lavell of Weatherford and Tony Lavell of Fort Worth; two daughters and a son-in-law, Lyn Brooks of Fort Worth and Tanya and David Smith of Hurst; three stepchildren, Jeanne Higley of Wilmington, Dele., Charles Kornegay and his wife Shirley of Rising Sun and Kerrill Taylor and her husband Wes of Elverson, Pa.; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Rising Sun Historical Commission, in care of R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., P.O. Box 248, 111 S. Queen St., Rising Sun, Md. 21911. To send condolences visit www.rtfoard.com.

Information from The Cherokeean Herald