Living Negro Leagues legend adds to UTA's collections library

DALLAS - William "Bill" Blair, a former Negro League baseball pitcher, has donated newspapers, photographs and other personal memorabilia to the University of Texas at Arlington's Special Collections Library.

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

NBC Dallas- William “Bill” Blair, a former Negro League baseball pitcher, has donated newspapers, photographs and other personal memorabilia to the University of Texas at Arlington’s Special Collections Library.

Blair signed over more than 30 boxes of items during a ceremony Tuesday morning.

Ann Hodges, special collections program coordinator, said the public event marked a first.

“I have been here in the library for 16 years now, and this is the first time we have ever celebrated the acquisition of a collection with an event like this,” she said.

Blair’s children and community members spoke about the legend’s legacy.

“For those who might not get a chance to see him before he walks on to the next life, they will get to celebrate what he done in this life,” said his son, Darryl Blair. “That’s the beauty of it.”

At 90, Bill Blair, has a lot of knowledge to pass on — one of the reasons why he decided to donate his collection to UTA, he said.

NBC Dallas has the full story.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE