Article from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution [edited due to privacy for the living]

Long before "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," an early generation of television viewers saw Dwight Blanton marry his lovely bride on national TV in 1952.

The Atlanta firefighter, and Georgia's 1947 Golden Gloves heavyweight champion, had proposed in front of his fire station, and that story caught the attention of CBS, which sponsored the show.

Most folks called James Dwight "J.D." or Dwight. He died Monday of congestive heart failure at Piedmont Hospital at the age of 82 and 2 days.

Mr. Blanton boxed at Boys High and in the U. S. Navy, where he was stationed on the destroyer escort USS Hollis. "He viewed the signing of the peace treaty with Japan through his binoculars," said his son.

When Mr. Blanton returned to Atlanta, he kept boxing. He sparred with Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, and once spent three days teaching Elvis Presley how to box, said his son.

In 1949, he joined the Atlanta Fire Department, where he drove the ladder truck for 30 years.

His career almost came to an abrupt halt in 1953. "He was firefighting at some truck depot, and the building blew. Dad was blown across the street into an open flatbed truck," his son said. The two men on each side of him died.

After retiring from the department in 1979, Mr. Blanton helped revive the memorial ceremony for firefighters who lost their lives in service. He was awarded the rank of Honorary Battalion Chief in 1998.

In early February 1952, in front of Atlanta Fire Station No. 17, Mr. Blanton proposed, said his wife. "He said to me, I've never told a girl that I really loved her because when I do I want her to be my wife.' Then he said, 'I love you.'"

Before the stunned woman had a chance to respond, the fire alarm rang, and Mr. Blanton rushed off in his truck. When he returned two hours later, his sweetheart was still there.

"He knew what my answer would be when he saw my car," she said.

The couple were married in New York on CBS' popular "Bride and Groom" show.

"They gave us an all-expense paid honeymoon in New England, a nice big kitchen stove, a TV and a year's supply of Hudson napkins, some of which we still had after the children were born," his wife said.

To help pay for his children's college education, Mr. Blanton formed a sales company. At baseball and football games across the Southeast, he would set up souvenir booths, "selling anything you could find inside the stadium, but at a cheaper price," said his son. Often he'd take his children along, "trading merchandise for tickets," he said.

Survivors include two daughters [private still living], two sons [private still living], two sisters, Jewel Blanton of Atlanta [deceased 9-2011] and one [private still living]; a brother, Dan Blanton [deceased 1-2011] of Atlanta; and 19 grandchildren." [end of article in AJC Feb 2004]

The church was packed with friends and family. All of the grandchildren sang and played the hymn, "Count Your Many Blessings" at the service.

Most friends and family call him DWIGHT. Some of his Navy buddies call him Jimmy because his first name is James. The cemetery had the name plaque made without asking the family what they wanted on the grave marker and would charge a lot of money to replace, so for now his marker reads "James D. Blanton"
~~E. Blanton, his daughter.