Hall of Fame
Merle Blair - Men's Basketball (1955-57)
Merle Blair started his collegiate career at Independence Community College and entered the broadcasting business in 1954. He then transferred to Washburn and played two seasons of basketball for the Ichabods before graduating in 1957. Blair’s career in radio picked up again after college. He held many positions including Executive Vice President of KTOP and General Manager of KTOP-KDVV in Topeka. He was the radio voice of Washburn sports from 1967-81.
Blair was very active in the community as well serving as president of the Topeka Sales and Marketing Executives, Phi Delta Alumni Association, the Washburn Ichabod club and was the chairman of the Washburn University Regents.
His honors include 1999 Kansas Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award, Topeka Advertising Man of the Year and Phi Delta Theta Alumni Man of the Year. he was inducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame in 1989.
