Will Rogers Blackburn M.D., 79, of Fairhope, passed away Nov. 21, 2014.
He was born in Durant, Okla., son of Henry Clay Blackburn and Vicie McIntosh-Blackburn (Abel).
He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1957, majoring in biology and chemistry and from Tulane School of Medicine in 1961, receiving fellowship awards in cardiovascular research and tropical medicine.
He attended Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, N.Y. for his medicine internship and the first two years of his residency in anatomic pathology. He completed the second two years of his clinical pathology residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colo.
He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-68. He was assigned to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C., with subsequent service in Southeast Asia, including tenure at the Royal Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.
Upon completion of his military duty in 1968, he joined the faculty of the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa., becoming an associate professor in the Department of Pathology.
In 1974 he moved to Mobile to continue teaching as a professor of pathology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. His particular interest was the growth and development of the human fetus. He retired from the university in 1995.
From 1995 until 2000 he was director of the Center for Anatomic Studies at the Greenwood Genetic Center in Greenwood, S.C., and he continued his lifelong interest in pediatric-perinatal pathology for the remainder of his life.
Dr. Blackburn was a member of 26 professional societies and held four consultant-ships, two of which were at the National Institutes of Health.
He was the recipient of multiple research grants. He served on the editorial boards of three professional medical publications and contributed the chapter on the umbilical cord to the Oxford University Press (2006) publication titled, “Human Malformations and Related Anomalies.” He authored or co-authored more than 224 professional journal articles.
He was an avid reader, and among his many interests were traveling, fishing, fine woodworking and architectural restoration projects.
He was a member of the Fairhope Yacht Club, and enjoyed sailing throughout his life.
He is survived by a uncle, Mark W. McIntosh of Clayton, Okla.; and nine first cousins, Dr. Mary Holt Campbell of Glenn Heights, Texas, Dr. Carolyn McIntosh Rude’ of Sandy Springs, Ga., Ann McIntosh Hansen of Topock, Ariz., Ance J. McIntosh of Casa Grande, Ariz., Lunetta Bennett Knowlton of Venice, Fla., Eddie G. McIntosh of Clayton, Okla., John R. Holt of Dallas, Texas, Jana McIntosh Austin of Houston, Texas and Douglass H. McIntosh of Grapevine, Texas.
He was laid to rest with military honors in Fairhope Colony Cemetery.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope.
