The Springdale news., 1915-04-02
DIED Ik
 PHOENIX
Robert I. Blackard Passes Away Very Suddenly In
 Far Western State

"RobertsI. Blackard died today at four o'clock" Such was the news received in Springdale last Saturday afternoon about five o'clock, and no greater shock was ever received by Springdale people Robert l. Black ard, or Bob as his friends all call ed him left Springdale some three weeks ago, going to Phoenix, Ari- zona, for his health. he being afflict- ed with tuberculosis, and from all inl- formation that had been received from him he was progressing nicely, and his condition was improving.
 From letters and cards sent to his relatives here, and to close friends, it is known that he was in hospital at Phoenix possibly four days before his death He welt to the hospital, baing stricken with hemorrhages, and a message received from the Physi- elan in attendance stated that he called at the hospital at eleven thir- ty Saturday morning, and that Bob was resting well He was called by ho spital authorities Saturday after two o'clock. but was unable to reach tae hospital before death arrived. Bob died as q result af very severe Eemorrhage.
 The writer of t4ese=few words was intimately acquainted with Bob Black ard from his moving to Springdale in May 1902, up to the present time, and We are at los for words =to ex- press q tribute to tHe memory of so deserving young man. and q friend in whom We had learned to place eX- .piic:t confidence and trust;Z e friend with whom we were associated dur ing our boyhood days. during our school days, and little later when we both entered tie business world.
 Robert Irwin Blackard was born October 22, 1891, 1t Clarksyille, Ark ., being the son Of Tom and Biddie Blackard. who have long since passed away. Tom Blackard, his father, died in November 1892, when Bob was only little over year old, and his mother answered the final sum mons two years later, or on Noyem- Der 3oth, 1894 Both parents were af- flicted with tuberculosis, the mother dying from complication Of tuber- culosis and paralysis, the father contracting the disease by exposure. and his death was almost identical with the death of Bob.
 After the death of his mother, Bob who was little over two years of age, was taken in charge by his aunt, Mrs. Ora Smith, and she has cared for him until his death. He came to brighten her home in April, 1894 Mrs Smith is the sister of Riddle Blackard, mother of Bob, and on her care and tenderness that mother could It is doubtful if mother could have been more kind, more considerate, or more attentive to Bob than his aunt. Oftimes she denied herself that Bob might have such ad- vantages as other boys, and while Bob always referred to her as his aunt, nevertheless there was feeling between the two kindred to the feel ings between mother and son.
 During his baby days Bob was givel every attention, in the hopes that the dreadful disease which he doubtless Ju tvh hn,.;f .l Iii io1,t be overcome, and for this attention he developed into robust, and ap- parently healthy boy.
 While in school his health was his wonderful asset, and his splendid physique gave no indication of the workings of the awful tubercular of the heaviest play. No game was ever too rough that Bob did not de light t0=be in the thickest of the fray and when he entered High School his ness made him member of the foot ball team. In this position he again seemed to overpower the deep rooted feeling that his inher .auoe would vii in the final struggle. As a physical man, outwal dly he Was perfection standing about five feet ten inches and weighing about one hundred an, eighty pounds, he was oft-times made tho bulwark for heavy work during his athletic career, and let it be said of Bob Blackard, that even in his football days, no play was ever formed with his position as the az gressive point, but that he was found carrying more than his share of the burden, and to his harder tactics many victories of his school team car