Chet Blaylock
Encyclopedia
Chester Merle "Chet" Blaylock (November 13, 1924 – October 23, 1996) was a U.S. politician
born in Joliet, Montana
. Blaylock served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
. Later he was a teacher for 30 years in Laurel
and Chinook, Montana
. He was a delegate to the Montana state Constitutional Convention in 1972 and a member of the Montana State Senate from Laurel, Montana
. In 1996 Blaylock was the Democratic
nominee for Governor of Montana against incumbent Marc Racicot
. On the way to a debate with his opponent less than two weeks before the election, Blaylock died of a heart attack at Deer Lodge, Montana
. His running mate, Judy Jacobson, continued unsuccessfully with his campaign. Blaylock was cremated and his ashes interred at Rockvale Cemetery in Rockvale, Montana.
" 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.
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the record and accomplishments of the late Senator Blaylock be filed on the official records of this Assembly and the following facts relative to his career are hereby noted:
Chet Blaylock was an educator. He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education
, a livable environment
, a good job and affordable health care. He a spent a lifetime pursuing that objective.
Born in Joliet
November 13, 1924, he served in the Navy, earning four medals in the South Pacific
, and returned to enter Eastern Montana College and later the University of Montana where he received B.S. and Master's degrees. He was chairman of the State Democratic Party
and a delegate to the Montana Constitutional Convention. He was elected to the State Senate in 1974 and served continuously until 1993. His last political campaign
as the Democratic candidate for Governor of Montana, ended with his death on October 23, 1996.
Senator Blaylock is survived by his widow, Mildred, and five children."
of $600. 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".
A large banner in Helena High School
reads the quote: “Courage and gold are both rare; but courage, unlike gold, is seldom sought after.” --Chet Blaylock
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
born in Joliet, Montana
Joliet, Montana
Joliet is a town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 575 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Joliet is located at .-Notable residents:...
. Blaylock served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Later he was a teacher for 30 years in Laurel
Laurel, Montana
Laurel is a city in Yellowstone County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is located in the Yellowstone Valley, as an east-west terminal division point of the Burlington-Northern Railroad.. The population was 6,781 at the 2010 census.Both...
and Chinook, Montana
Chinook, Montana
Chinook is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. Points of interest are the Bear Paw Battlefield Museum located in the small town's center and the Bear Paw Battlefield, located just twenty miles south of...
. He was a delegate to the Montana state Constitutional Convention in 1972 and a member of the Montana State Senate from Laurel, Montana
Laurel, Montana
Laurel is a city in Yellowstone County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is located in the Yellowstone Valley, as an east-west terminal division point of the Burlington-Northern Railroad.. The population was 6,781 at the 2010 census.Both...
. In 1996 Blaylock was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for Governor of Montana against incumbent Marc Racicot
Marc Racicot
Marc F. Racicot is a U.S. politician and lobbyist and member of the Republican Party. He was the governor of Montana from 1993 until 2001. After leaving office, Racicot worked as a lobbyist for the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani. His notable clients included Enron, Burlington Northern Santa Fe,...
. On the way to a debate with his opponent less than two weeks before the election, Blaylock died of a heart attack at Deer Lodge, Montana
Deer Lodge, Montana
Deer Lodge is a city in and the county seat of Powell County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,421 at the 2000 census. The city is perhaps best known as the home of the Montana State Prison, a major local employer...
. His running mate, Judy Jacobson, continued unsuccessfully with his campaign. Blaylock was cremated and his ashes interred at Rockvale Cemetery in Rockvale, Montana.
State Record of Passing
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
Montana Senate
The Montana Senate is the upper house of the Montana State Legislature, the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Montana. The body is composed of 50 senators.-Composition of the Senate:-Officers:*Majority Whip: Greg Barkus...
of the Fifty-fifth Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana record the passing of Chet Blaylock on October 23, 1996.
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the record and accomplishments of the late Senator Blaylock be filed on the official records of this Assembly and the following facts relative to his career are hereby noted:
Chet Blaylock was an educator. He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, a livable environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, a good job and affordable health care. He a spent a lifetime pursuing that objective.
Born in Joliet
Joliet, Montana
Joliet is a town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 575 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Joliet is located at .-Notable residents:...
November 13, 1924, he served in the Navy, earning four medals in the South Pacific
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
, and returned to enter Eastern Montana College and later the University of Montana where he received B.S. and Master's degrees. He was chairman of the State Democratic Party
Montana Democratic Party
The Montana Democratic Party is the Montana party affiliate of the Democratic Party. The Montana Democratic Party is also one of the two major political parties in the U.S. state of Montana. The party is led by Chairman Jim Elliot and Vice Chair Nancy Anderson...
and a delegate to the Montana Constitutional Convention. He was elected to the State Senate in 1974 and served continuously until 1993. His last political campaign
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
as the Democratic candidate for Governor of Montana, ended with his death on October 23, 1996.
Senator Blaylock is survived by his widow, Mildred, and five children."
Chet Blaylock Memorial Scholarship Award
Offered at MSU-Billings, the Chet Blaylock Memorial Scholarship Award is a scholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
of $600. Recipients must be a full time student enrolled for a minimum of 15 credits per semester; a graduate of a Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
high school; a Montana resident; have a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
GPA of 3.5 or above, university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
GPA of 3.25 or above; two letters of recommendation; and must be a student who shows "promise in a chosen field".
A large banner in Helena High School
Helena High School
Helena High School is a public high school for grades 9 through 12 located in Helena, Montana. It is part of the Helena Public School District. Founded in September 1876, it is the oldest high school in the state of Montana.-Curriculum:...
reads the quote: “Courage and gold are both rare; but courage, unlike gold, is seldom sought after.” --Chet Blaylock