Frank Blas

Guamanian politician

Frank Flores Blas, Sr. (March 20, 1941 – August 1, 2016) was a Guamanian politician, businessman and member of the Republican Party of Guam. Blas served as the Lieutenant Governor of Guam from 1987 until 1995 under Governor Joseph Franklin Ada.[1]

Frank Blas
Lieutenant Governor of Guam
In office
January 5, 1987 (1987-Jan-05) – January 2, 1995 (1995-Jan-02)
GovernorJoseph Franklin Ada
Preceded byEdward Diego Reyes
Succeeded byMadeleine Bordallo
Personal details
Born
Frank Flores Blas

(1941-03-20)March 20, 1941
Agana, Guam
DiedAugust 1, 2016(2016-08-01) (aged 75)
New York City, New York, United States
Political partyRepublican Party of Guam
Spouse(s)
Lydia Calvo
(m. 1960⁠–⁠1970)

Ernestina "Tina" Tenorio
(m. 1971⁠–⁠2016)
Children5
Alma mater

Biography

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Early life

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Blas was born on March 20, 1941, in Agana, now known as Hagåtña, Guam.[2] He attended Father Dueñas Memorial School in Guam, and St. Augustine High School in San Diego, California.[1] He received an associate's degree from the College of Guam in 1962. Blas graduated from the University of Portland with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1965.[1]

Blas and his first wife, Lydia Blas (died 1970), had two children, including Frank Blas Jr., a politician.[1] In 1971, Blas married his second wife, Tina and had three children.[1]

Career

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Blas worked for the Mobil Petroleum Company of Guam from 1965 until 1969.[2]

He was Director of the Department of Commerce of Guam from 1969 to 1972.[2] Blas was elected to Legislature of Guam as a Senator from 1974 until 1984.[1][2]

In 1982, with Republican Senator Kurt Moylan, Blas challenged the Republican Governor Paul McDonald Calvo in the primary election.[3] Moylan and Blas were defeated in the primary vote.[3] Governor Calvo lost to Democrat Ricardo Bordallo in the November 1982 general election.[3]

On November 4, 1986, Joseph Franklin Ada, with Frank Blas, were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Guam.[4] Ada defeated the Governor Ricardo Bordallo by 2,581 votes (7.6%).[4] Blas served as Lt. Governor under Ada for two terms from January 1987 until January 1995.[1] Blas described his main role as a liaison between the Ada administration and members of the Legislature.[1]

Ada could not seek re-election to a third term, so Blas joined with Simon Sanchez to stand for office.[1] However, Blas and Sanchez lost the 1994 Republican primary election to Tommy Tanaka and Doris Brooks.[1] Tanaka was defeated in the 1994 election by Democrat Carl Gutierrez and Madeleine Bordallo.

Blas left politics in January 1995.[1] He owned Frank Blas & Associates, an insurance brokerage firm based in Barrigada, Guam.[1] In 2003, Blas was appointed Chairman of the Antonio B. Won Pat Guam International Airport Authority, a government agency which operates the airport.[2]

Frank Blas died on August 1, 2016, at the age of 75.[1][5]

References

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  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Limtiaco, Steve (2016-08-01). "Former Lt. Gov. Frank Blas dead at 75". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lujan, J.A. (2005). "Resolution No. 90: Mina'bente Ocho Na Liheslaturan Guahan 2005 (First) Regular Session" (PDF). Legislature of Guam. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rogers, Robert F. (1995). Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 270–271. ISBN 978-0-8248-1678-0.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Rogers, Robert F. (1995). Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam. University of Hawaii Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-8248-1678-0.
  5. Ridgell, Clynt (2016-08-01). "Former Lt. Governor Frank Blas Sr. Has Passed Away". Pacific New Center. Archived from the original on 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2016-08-01.