NORTH MANCHESTER - Dr. A. Blair Helman, 88, of North Manchester, died at 12:50 a.m. March 22, 2009, in Timbercrest Senior Living Community, North Manchester.
He was born Dec. 25, 1920, in Windber, Pa., to Henry and Luie Pritt Helman. On June 22, 1947, he married Patricia Kennedy, who died Oct. 28, 2005.
After graduating from Windber High School, he was a coal miner for Berwind-White Coal Mining Co. for three years. He then enrolled in Bethany Bible Training School, Chicago, Ill., and completed his degree at McPherson College, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. His master's degree and doctoral studies were conducted at the University of Kansas. He was pastor of three Church of the Brethren congregations in Kansas during those years in Newton, Ottawa and Wichita.
In 1956, he was named president of Manchester College. During his 30-year tenure, he started the Brethren Colleges Abroad Program, put emphasis on the International Peace Program and was instrumental in adding 16 buildings to the campus. He traveled to more than 30 countries due to his passion for international study. He received five honorary doctorate degrees from Indiana University and Manchester, Bridewater, McPherson and Juniata colleges. Among the many honors he received were: Indiana Academy in 1987; Sagamore of the Wabash - the highest award the governor of Indiana can bestow; and Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International Foundation, award for dedication to Indiana Higher Education.
Some of his offices and board appointments include: Commission on Arms Control Education from the United Nations; Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; president for the Indiana Conference of Higher Education; chairman and interim president of the Council of Protestant Colleges and Universities; president of the Associated Colleges of Indiana and the President's Advisory Committee for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics; policy board for the Department of High Education; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; and moderator of the Church of the Brethren - highest elective office in the denomination.
After retirement he lived in Fort Wayne, where he was a member of the Fort Wayne Downtown Rotary and Quest clubs. He was a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren.
Surviving are two daughters, Bunny (and spouse Patrick) Hill, Wichita, Kan., and Patty (and spouse Raymond) Magaro, Columbus; five grandchildren, Hamilton, Harrison and Katie Hill and Matthew and Marshall Magaro; a brother, Robert Helman; and two sisters, Leah Levin and Luella Edeline.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Cordier Auditorium at Manchester College with Pastor Kurt Borgmann and Dr. Jo Young Switzer officiating. A private burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester.
McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114W, North Manchester, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials to Presidential Leadership Awards/ A. Blair and Patricia Helman Honor Scholarships, Manchester College, 604 E. College Ave., North Manchester, IN 46962; A. Blair and Patricia Kennedy Helman Charitable Endowment, c/o Community Foundation of Wabash County, P.O. Box 98, North Manchester, IN 46962; or Wichita Collegiate School, 9115 E. 13th St., Wichita, KS 67206.
