| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 21 Jan 2007.
Three generations of Blazers serve Cocke County on CLB
Cocke County Legislative Body (CLB) Second District, Post II Commissioner Henry Clay Blazer of Sparks Road, Parrottsville, is the third generation of Blazers to serve the citizens of Parrottsville on the CLB. In the foreground, from left, are Henry Clay Blazer and his sister, Laura Blazer Forbes. In the background, from left, are the late H.C. Blazer and his wife, the late Bertha Blazer, Dolly Blazer and the late Bill Blazer.
By: STEVE BLANCHETT
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
01-21-2007
Three generations of Blazers serve Cocke County on CLB By STEVE BLANCHETT Special to The Plain Talk PARROTTSVILLE-Cocke County Legislative Body (CLB) Second District, Post II Commissioner Henry Clay Blazer, 27, of Sparks Road, Parrottsville, is the third generation of Blazers to serve the citizens of Parrottsville on the CLB. Blazer's father was the late William Clay 'Bill' Blazer, who served on the CLB from 1982 to 1986, and his grandfather, Henry Clay 'H.C.' Blazer, served on the CLB from 1960 to 1982. Bill Blazer also served as Cocke County Executive from 1978 to 1982.
Bill Blazer was married to Dolly Blazer, who has been teaching kindergarten at Parrottsville Elementary School for 30 years. H.C. Blazer was married to Bertha Blazer, who was a teacher at Newport Grammar School for 30 years. Clay Blazer is also a teacher and has been teaching at Cocke County High School for the past five years. Clay teaches U.S. Government, Advanced Placement U.S. History, and the Youth Leadership Cocke County class. Clay Blazer started his teaching career by doing a one-year internship at Karns High School in Knoxville.
Both Bill Blazer and H.C. Blazer were also educators having taught history and geography at Parrottsville High School and Elementary School. Clay Blazer said not only does the family have a tradition in serving its community on the CLB, but it also has a tradition of being educators in the community where they were all born and raised.
Clay Blazer now lives in his great grandfather's residence, which was purchased by the family in 1915. His great grandfather was the late Henry Clay Blazer and Columbus Clay Blazer was his great, great grandfather. The name Clay has been carried down through the generations in some form from father to son for at least five generations.
Clay Blazer said another significant fact about the generations of Blazers living in Cocke County is that five generations of Blazers have always lived and worked on the family's farm in Parrottsville.
Clay Blazer also has two sisters, April Blazer and Laura Blazer Forbes, who continue to live on the family farm as well.
"There have been a lot of family influences that have led me in the directions that I have taken in my life," said Clay Blazer. "My father and grandfather instilled in me a desire to help others that I come in contact with. "I have always been interested in politics, as I grew up with politics being discussed around the dinner table by all of my family," continued Clay Blazer. "Teaching U.S. History also provides me with the opportunity to discuss politics with my students. I believe politics is important and I try to express that importance to my students, so they too will exercise their right and vote when they are old enough to do so.
Clay Blazer said he has had parents and students thank him for awaking the desire in the students to become more involved in politics because it's how we get things done or not done in this county and country.
"I love going to school everyday because it's a great experience," said Clay Blazer. "If we don't get the kids interested in politics our country is doomed. Each one of them will have a vote just like President George W. Bush and it's important to teach them to cast that vote."
Clay Blazer said he has found that one way to get parents, who don't vote, to begin to vote is through their children.
"I have never missed voting in an election and I hope to instill the same desire in my students through educating them on the importance of each and every vote that is cast," said Clay Blazer.
"My father always told me that education is something that can never be taken away from you and I too believe in that by providing the best education to my students that I possibly can," said Clay Blazer.
Clay Blazer said the tradition his father and grandfather established were part of the reason that he decided to run for the CLB and the other reason was that he has always had a great desire to be involved in politics and said that someday he hopes to further his political career by obtaining a higher office. "I've been sitting back and taking a lot in since being elected to the CLB because it's important to understand the inner working of the legislative body," said Clay Blazer. "I want to figure out the game before I cut my nose off to spite may face, so I've been quiet on purpose."
Dolly Blazer said in all honesty I can't say I wanted Clay to run for the CLB. "Clay is a lot different from his father and grandfather in that they were both very outspoken, while he's quiet," said Dolly Blazer.
"I know how much of a commitment that it is to be on the CLB because my husband was always helping someone else," said Dolly Blazer. "Bill was a man of honesty and integrity and I know that my son has the same values. I will always support Clay and support whatever decision he makes because I know he'll do what's right just as his father did."
Dolly Blazer said her late husband's main interest was making the community a better place to live than he found it and she believes her son wants to do the same.
"My father-in-law was the same as my husband," said Dolly Blazer. "I was very fortunate to marry a man of such high character at 18 years of age. I know Bill's desire to help others came from his father just as Clay's desire came from his father."
Dolly Blazer said H.C. Blazer would be working in his shop on the family's farm, but if someone came by, he would stop what he was doing so that he could help them.
"H.C. was a public servant from the get-go," said Dolly Blazer. "He served 22 years on the CLB and was very proud of that fact and so are we."
Clay Blazer said my father and grandfather stressed that your number one goal in life should be helping others when they need it and I don't know of a better way to help my community than to serve on the CLB.
"If someone comes to me with a problem, I will help them to the best of my ability and if I can't help them personally, then I'll put them in touch with someone that may be able to like their congressman or senator," continued Clay Blazer. "I consider myself a link between my constituents and others. They can call me at anytime and I will always try to help them.
"I believe that once you tell someone that you are going to do something, then you should do it," said Clay Blazer. "I've been raised to be honest and trustworthy and my word is as good as any contract. When I say I will do something, then I am going to do it."
Clay Blazer said he knows that's the way his father and grandfather were and he likes to think that tradition continues in him as well.
When asked what his future plans were, Clay Blazer said he hopes someday to get married and raise a family, but so far he hasn't had much luck because he wanted to finish his education and become established in the community.
Clay Blazer is currently in the process of obtaining his Ed.D in Classroom Leadership and Education from East Tennessee State University and hopes to complete his studies by the end of 2007.
"You've heard it said that men want to find someone like their mother. Well I've given up on that because my mother has always worked so hard on the farm and teaching that I know I won't be able to find someone like her," Blazer said jokingly. "I know I'll find the right lady and get married someday now that my life is stable."
Clay Blazer said he isn't sure exactly what he'll do concerning his political career in the future.
"I want to do the best I can as a commissioner on the CLB and we'll see what happens after that," continued Clay Blazer. "But at some point in my political life, I do have higher aspirations than being on the CLB."
Clay Blazer said he is glad that his father insisted that he help people when he was young because it has given him the family values that he has today. "I am blessed to have my family traditions and I will use those traditions in making my decisions on the CLB," concluded Clay Blazer.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 26 Feb 2013.
CCHS teacher to appear on Wheel of Fortune
Author: Duay O'Neil
PARROTTSVILLE-CCHS teacher and CLB member Dr. Clay Blazer will appear on Wheel of Fortune on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The episode airs at 7 p.m. on WBIR.
Blazer said he was selected for the program through an audition process in Knoxville and received notification of his selection Labor Day weekend.
At the time, however, he did not receive the exact date of the taping of his appearance, "They called me on Halloween that I would be on taping of November 15," Blazer said.
Blazer, his mother Dolly, and her first cousin Vickie Orozco flew to California for the program.
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Abt 1980 - (~ 44 years)
(Age 56 years) 