Live Interview with Thomas Blair Jr O.O. 2015 Ophthalmic Optician of the Year and Editor Lynnette Blanton of Eye Care Professional Magazine!

This is a live interview with Award Winning Thomas Blair Jr with 

Editor Lynnette Blanton of Eye Care Professional magazine...Read on! 

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Blair, who has held a Masters of Ophthalmic Optics from the ABO since 1995. He is a former Vice Chairman of Georgia State Board of Dispensing Opticians and the Commission on Opticianry
Accreditation, and a longtime member of the Opticians Association of Georgia.

He was formally designated an Ambassador of the Year by the National Academy of Opticlanry in 2008, and he is currently licensed to practice in Georgia, Florida and New Jersey.



EYECARE PROFESSIONAL: How long have you been a credentialed optician?

Thomas Blair, Jr.: 41 years of documented experience including military seruice.

EYECARE PROFESSIONAL: What interested you in bemming an optician?

Thomas Blair, Jr.: As member of the US Air Force ,n 1974, I had an opportunity to get involved in healthcare seruices and I was assigned to go to the School of Health Care Services at Sheppard AFB in Wlchita Falls Texas. At the base I was entered into optometric technician training to work with optometrists.

Generally speaking such personnel are the designated few assigned to a base. At Mccuire AFB NJ i was ultimately responsible for scheduling all pilots, flight crew, and geneml military personnel with eye exams and fittings for eyeglasses.

After an honorable discharge I decided to pursue the field of Opticianry and went on to civilian school on the GI Bill. I received my degree with honors in Ophthalmic Science at Camden County College in Blackwood, NJ in 1978 I became licensed in NJ where I resided for a few years, but at the height of the recession in 1982 I moved south. Planning ahead, I became licensed in Florida and Georgia.

I was named a Distinguished Alumnus and a member of the CCC Opticianry HOF in 1999.

EYECARE PROFESSIONAL: What were some of your highlights in the optical industry over the past 41 year?

Thomas Blair, Jr.: Established a small business Protrusion Vision Optical in Metro-Atlanta, Georgia in 1982. In 1988 and for the next 26 years I provided contracted optical services to local hospital facilities. The operation was named
an outstanding vendor by DeKalb County GA Office of Compliance in 2007.

During those years I got involved in organized opticianry with the Opticians Association of Georgia (OAG). For a short time prior to relocating to Georgia, I was also involved in the Opticians Association of New Jersey then known as the NJ Society of Dispensing Opticians.

Upon becoming a member of OAG in 1984 I moved through the ranks and became President of the OAG in 1999. I served twice in that position (2007-10)and was designated OAG President Emeritus in 2010. I was inducted into the OAG Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the OAG Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

Over the years I was named OAG Optician of the Year in 1995, 2001, and 2010. I also became very active in the Opticians Association of America which is the parent organization of OAG since 1982.

In 2001 I was named the OAA National State Leader of the Year. In 2OO9 I was named OAA Legislative Chairman by then OAA national president Diane Charles and was instrumental in getting the 2009 "OAA Title Protection Act Resolution" passed in Cincinnati, Ohio at that year's annual conference.

EYECARE PROFESSIONAL: What words of advice would you tell students who are studying to become an Optician?

Thomas Blair, Jr.: I am strongly committed to the concept of formal education for opticians. Contrary to popular belief - in some corners - there is a place for "book learning.' Education properly used is nothing more than a valuable tool in the tool chest of professional development. Socrates said "the uneducated man is like a leaf blown from here to there; believing whatever he is told."

EYECARE PROFESSIONAL: After 47 years and all these accomplishments - what is next on the agenda?

Thomas Blair, Jr.: As previously noted, I am currently an adjunct instructor in the Opticianry program at GA Piedmont Technical College. At this stage of my career, I feel I can make the best contribution to the profession having a role in the education and training of the next generation of Opticians.

It is also the best way to honor the legacy of those who paved the road before me such as the late OAA National President C. Richard Sander, Sr.of Macon GA whom - IMO - was the embodiment of the Thomas Jefferson quote "One man with courage is a majority.'

The SAO is honoring Mr. Blair an Optician, Saturday, September 26th, 2015 (which is being held in Nashville,TN). All opticians are invited and can receive more information at the new 5AO web site www.ophthaImicoptician.org.

Lynnette Blanton, Editor
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