Daniel L. was born on June 29, 1939 in Moline, Illinois. In 1957 he graduated with honors from Southeast High School in Oklahoma City. In 1961 he graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University in New York City with a Bachelor's in Sociology. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. From 1961 on, he was President of the American Institute of Discussion with headquarters in Oklahoma City. He was primarily responsible for developing A.I.D.'s read and discuss course materials, a job which requires voluminous reading, and excellent memory and a unique talent for correlating ideas. From 1970 to 1991 he was the host of three television series produced by the Community Workshop of the Oklahoma County Metropolitan Library System: Creative Crafts, Medicine and You, and Money and You. These were aired by WKY-TV (later KTVY) until 1987 and by KAUT-TV until 1991. Creative Crafts was on the air beginning in 1951 and was Oklahoma's, if not the nation's, longest running television show. Other television shows by Mr. Blanchard included: Quality of Living (1973) and We the People (1976). In 1974, he received a medal from The National Academy of Western Art at The National Cowboy Hall of Fame, for hosting a television show on Robert Lougheed. In 1978, he received a special award from The Better Business Bureau for hosting the Money and You television series. In 1983, The Metropolitan Library presented him with a certificate of appreciation for hosting all three series and he received the Governor's Arts Award from the State Arts Council of Oklahoma for his work with Creative Crafts. Since 1977, Blanchard had been the co-owner of The Grapevine Gallery in Oklahoma City. Beginning in 1987, he was a longtime influential member of the Oklahoma Center for the Book, serving two terms as President from 1988-1989. Dan Blanchard was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Blanchard of Oklahoma City and his brother, Bob of Traverse City, MI. He is survived by his father, Everett of Oklahoma City his sisters, Ann Cronin of Salt Spring, BC, Canada, Mary Simon and Louise Angelo, both of Oklahoma City his sister-in-law, Charlotte of Traverse City, MI and his brother, Jim of Ephrata WA. Dan Blanchard was interested in every possible subject. He was an avid art collector, music expert, and traveled extensively in the United States and Mexico. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2009 at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Chapel (6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 73116). The family wishes to express appreciation to Crossroads Hospice for the excellent care they provided to Dan prior to his passing. In lieu of flowers, family requests that you donate to the Oklahoma Center for the Book, 200 NE 18 St., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

Published in The Oklahoman on May 29, 2009