|
Obituary: Stewart Blue – Track & Field 1966-69 – May 1, 2021Steward Boldridge Blue June 14, 1947- May 1, 2021 Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, with visitation from 9:00 AM until time of services at Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Stewart Boldridge Blue, 73, who passed away after a long race with cancer on May 1, 2021, at his residence. Danny Collins, Community Bible Church, Cut Off, LA, will conduct the funeral services. Stewart, a resident of Lafayette, was the son of the late Robert E. Blue, stepson of the late Calvin L. Cooley and mother, Sara Jane Boldridge Cooley. Blue is a member of Ark-La-Tex Track & Field Hall of Fame in Shreveport, UL-Lafayette Athletic Hall of Fame, LSU Track & Field Officials Hall of Fame, University of Arkansas Officials Hall of Fame and Texas A&M Track & Field Officials Hall of Fame. Because of his love of the sport, he officiated every state high school outdoor championship, except one, since 1972 and has assisted in over 120 district and regional meets. In addition to his 42 outdoor state meets in Louisiana, he has assisted in 19 state meets in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. He was known as a "running rules guru" at the high school, NCAA, and USATF levels. At the international level, Stewart was a timing-assistant with the (Swiss) Timing group at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles; and in 1985, he was a timing assistant at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Baton Rouge for both Track and Field and Speed Skating. In total, he has officiated 38 NCAA indoor and outdoor national championships. His referee assignments included various Southland, Sun Belt, Missouri Valley, American South and Metro Conference championships and was recently the running referee at Texas A&M indoors and Northwestern State outdoors. He has been head umpire at Texas A&M, the SEC Indoor Championships, and the Sun-Belt Championships. In addition, he has served multiple years as head Finish line coordinator and head lap counter for NCAA and SEC Championships held at the University of Arkansas and Texas A&M, and has sat on the Jury of Appeals at the Big 12. He is a member of the Cajun Track (ULL), LSU, University of Arkansas, and Texas A&M Officials Associations, and he has officiated at every major collegiate conference in the U.S. and USATF. As a Master-level official and lecturer, he has officiated three USATF indoor senior championships. Among the most recent USATF honors, he was selected to the umpiring crew for the 2016 and 2020/2021 Olympic Trials held in Eugene, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert E. Blue; mother, Sara Jane Cooley; and stepfather, Calvin Cooley. The Blue family would like to thank Stewart’s doctors, Dr. Joseph Brierre and Dr. Kemp Coreil; 5th Floor Oncology at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center; Our Lady of Lourdes Infusion Center; Hospice of Acadiana and his wonderful and caring Nurse, Karen Nelson; and his sweet aid, Scarlet Rideaux. He had the dream team! In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the various Track & Field Officials Associations of Texas A&M University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana State University, University of Arkansas, and the University of Alabama. Personal condolences may be sent to the Blue family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Stewart B. Blue please visit our Sympathy Store.
Athletic Network Footnote by Ed Dugas. Click here for Steward’s Athletic Network profile. Click here for story about recent visit from Texas A&M Track & Field Team. Click here for the photo gallery of the 2009 Track & Field Reunion of the 1969-75 teams. Click here for the 2019 Track & Field Reunion Committee. Click here for the 2019 Track & Field Reunion On-the-field Recognitions. The AN extends condolences to Stewart’s family, teammates and friends. He was one of the original supporters of the idea of an Athletic Network, a commitment from which he never waived. Stew served one of the original Athletic Network captains. The camera currently used by the AN is one he purchased when he realized the need. Rest in Peace my friend. Peace, Ed
|