Paul G. Blazer
Encyclopedia
Paul Garrett Blazer was, starting in 1924, president of the Ashland Refining Co., a division of the financially shaky Swiss Oil Company of Lexington
, which had hired him. At the time, the company operated mainly out of a small refinery in Catlettsburg
. By 1936, under Blazer's leadership, the Company merged with Swiss Oil to form the Ashland Oil and Refining Company.
Blazer's success as manager, recognized by major stock holders, gave him the power to run Ashland as his own operation, though at no point during his tenure as chief executive officer (1936 - 57), did he own a controlling interest in the company.
The liberally educated Blazer, with his impressive mathematical and analytical skills, set the tone of the informal organization. He seldom used his office to discuss matters with his subordinates and visited them instead in their offices on his regular walks around the company.
Paul Blazer was succeeded as chief executive officer by his nephew, Rexford S. Blazer (1957 - 65).
, to David N. and Mary Melinda Blazer (née Jones). His father was the owner and publisher of regional newspapers. He studied at William & Vashti College
in nearby Aledo, Illinois
, and the University of Chicago
. While in college he was national distribution manager of Curtiss Publishing Company of Philadelphia. When the United States
entered World War I
, he volunteered to serve in the U. S. Army, but a back injury resulted in his discharge.
In 1920 Blazer moved to Kentucky
as vice president of the Great Southern Oil & Refining Company in Lexington
. In 1924 he joined the Swiss Oil Company of Lexington, in charge of constructing and managing the operations of Ashland Refining Co. in Ashland
. Managing the company was more than a vocation for Blazer; from 1924 to 1957 he was regarded as head of the "Ashland family." He did not use his office at company headquarters extensively, but conferred with employees in their offices or in his office at home. Blazer was a striking figure (six foot, four inches tall), hardworking, and unusually effective in expressing himself in business correspondence.
Blazer served as chairman of a campaign for a Kentucky constitutional convention (1946 - 47) and as chairman of the Cincinnati Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (1949 - 50). He received honorary degrees from Centre College in Danville (1950), University of Kentucky
(1952), Marshall University
of Huntington
(1958), and Pikeville College
(1959), as well as the Sullivan Medallion Award from the University of Kentucky (1948). He was elected Kentuckian of the year (1954) by the Kentucky Press Association. Blazer, a strong supporter of education, was a member of the board of trustees of Centre College, and a high school in Ashland
was named for him. The Blazer family founded a lecture series at the University of Kentucky in memory of a son of Blazer's who was killed in the Korean War
.
In April 1917 Blazer married Georgia Monroe, whom he had met at the University of Chicago. She was active in her own right in promoting education in Kentucky, serving successive terms as a member of the board of trustees of the University of Kentucky from 1939 to 1960. The Blazers had three children: Paul G., Jr., Doris Virginia, and Stuart Monroe. Rexford Blazer, later chief executive officer of Ashland Oil, was a nephew. Paul Blazer died on September 9, 1966 and was buried in the Ashland Cemetery.
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, which had hired him. At the time, the company operated mainly out of a small refinery in Catlettsburg
Catlettsburg, Kentucky
Catlettsburg is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States and is the county seat of Boyd County. The city population was 1,960 at the 2000 census. The city's postal ZIP code serves a greater population of 10,029, which is a better reflection of the community's size. Catlettsburg is a part of...
. By 1936, under Blazer's leadership, the Company merged with Swiss Oil to form the Ashland Oil and Refining Company.
Blazer's success as manager, recognized by major stock holders, gave him the power to run Ashland as his own operation, though at no point during his tenure as chief executive officer (1936 - 57), did he own a controlling interest in the company.
The liberally educated Blazer, with his impressive mathematical and analytical skills, set the tone of the informal organization. He seldom used his office to discuss matters with his subordinates and visited them instead in their offices on his regular walks around the company.
Paul Blazer was succeeded as chief executive officer by his nephew, Rexford S. Blazer (1957 - 65).
Biography
Paul Blazer was born on September 19, 1890, in New Boston, IllinoisNew Boston, Illinois
New Boston is a city in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 632 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Boston is located at ....
, to David N. and Mary Melinda Blazer (née Jones). His father was the owner and publisher of regional newspapers. He studied at William & Vashti College
William & Vashti College
William & Vashti College was a college in Aledo, Illinois from 1908 to 1917. Founded by William Drury and his wife Vashti Lewis, early settlers and prominent citizens of Mercer County. The campus and buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924 to 1973. The...
in nearby Aledo, Illinois
Aledo, Illinois
Aledo is a city in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,613 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mercer County.-Geography:Aledo is located at ....
, and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. While in college he was national distribution manager of Curtiss Publishing Company of Philadelphia. When the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he volunteered to serve in the U. S. Army, but a back injury resulted in his discharge.
In 1920 Blazer moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
as vice president of the Great Southern Oil & Refining Company in Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. In 1924 he joined the Swiss Oil Company of Lexington, in charge of constructing and managing the operations of Ashland Refining Co. in Ashland
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
. Managing the company was more than a vocation for Blazer; from 1924 to 1957 he was regarded as head of the "Ashland family." He did not use his office at company headquarters extensively, but conferred with employees in their offices or in his office at home. Blazer was a striking figure (six foot, four inches tall), hardworking, and unusually effective in expressing himself in business correspondence.
Blazer served as chairman of a campaign for a Kentucky constitutional convention (1946 - 47) and as chairman of the Cincinnati Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (1949 - 50). He received honorary degrees from Centre College in Danville (1950), University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
(1952), Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
of Huntington
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
(1958), and Pikeville College
Pikeville College
The University of Pikeville is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, located in Pikeville, Kentucky. The university is home to one of three medical schools in the state of Kentucky. It's current president is former Kentucky Governor Paul E...
(1959), as well as the Sullivan Medallion Award from the University of Kentucky (1948). He was elected Kentuckian of the year (1954) by the Kentucky Press Association. Blazer, a strong supporter of education, was a member of the board of trustees of Centre College, and a high school in Ashland
Paul G. Blazer High School
Paul G. Blazer High School is a public high school located in Ashland, Kentucky. It is part of the Ashland Independent school district. Blazer replaced the former Ashland High School in 1963. For this reason, Blazer is still commonly referred to as simply "Blazer" by local residents, or...
was named for him. The Blazer family founded a lecture series at the University of Kentucky in memory of a son of Blazer's who was killed in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
In April 1917 Blazer married Georgia Monroe, whom he had met at the University of Chicago. She was active in her own right in promoting education in Kentucky, serving successive terms as a member of the board of trustees of the University of Kentucky from 1939 to 1960. The Blazers had three children: Paul G., Jr., Doris Virginia, and Stuart Monroe. Rexford Blazer, later chief executive officer of Ashland Oil, was a nephew. Paul Blazer died on September 9, 1966 and was buried in the Ashland Cemetery.