|
 "It
takes a Team to Build a Dream
and if that's to be,
it will be up to YOU and ME"
-- Brian Blair
Brian Blair has been a
resident of Hillsborough County since 1967. He
married Tampa native Toni Sabella 18 years ago in a
South Tampa ceremony. Their children Brett, 12, and
Bradley, 9, attend public school in Hillsborough County.
As a child, Brian's family relocated from
Gary, Indiana to the Tampa area. He attended Egypt Lake Elementary School, Webb
Junior High School, and Tampa Bay Tech High School. Brian earned
8 letters in four sports in high school including 3 in football
and 3 in wrestling. He was voted Best All-Around in the senior
notables as well as achieving Honor Roll status in the
classroom. Excelling academically as well as in sports, Brian
attended St. Leo College for one semester before earning a
football scholarship at the
University of Louisville.
 An excellent athlete with God-given ability, Brian's
first love was wrestling. He had the opportunity to enter the sport
early when he accepted an offer from Tampa icon, Eddie Graham,
to join Tampa-based Championship Wrestling from Florida. He excelled at
professional wrestling and became one of the biggest
stars in the country. For several years, he wrestled with
the largest organizations in the world, including the
WWF. In later years, Brian was perhaps best known as one of the Killer
Bees TV tag-team, along with partner Jim Brunzell.
 Even at the pinnacle of
his career, Brian kept working toward his long-term goal
of financial security. Brian was fiscally responsible
with his wrestling earnings and soon started Blair's Health and Fitness, Inc.,
d.b.a. Gold's Gym, in 1989. With the support and
assistance of wife Toni, Brian built this facility into a
multi-location business and managed a multi-million
dollar budget. During his nine
years as a Gold's Gym Licensee, his franchise received more
achievement awards than any other operation in the 500-plus
Gold's Gym world-wide network. He sold this business in
1998 and now looks forward to serving the people of Hillsborough
County as a County Commissioner.
 Brian devotes his time
to the community. He enjoys managing and coaching baseball at
Forest Hills Pony League, where he is also a Board Member. Brian speaks as part of the Great
American Teach-In, American Education Week and other events.
A few of the charities that Brian has been involved with include
the All Children's Hospital Telethon, the Chi Chi Rodriguez
Foundation, Florida Child's Wish Come True, The Children's Home,
Mary Help of Christians School,
Faith Children's Home, Say NO to Drugs, Angelus Foundation
(helping disabled and severely handicapped children), the Marty
Lyons Foundation, Make a Wish Foundation of Sarasota/Tampa Bay,
American Health Association, St. Joseph's Hospital of Tampa
Foundation, American Association of Kidney Patients, UAPC,
American Cancer Society, Florida Lake Watch, Florida Sheriff's Association and the
Fraternal Order of Police.
Brian and his
family have been active members of Idlewild Baptist Church since
1997. His hobbies include family activities, fishing and
golf.
More photos in the Campaign
Gallery!
I
Want to Help! (Click Here) |
