Agnes Scott, Emory’s Oxford College receive $16 million from Blair estates

Oxford College of Emory University and Agnes Scott College will split a gift of more than $16 million from the estates of Emy and Duane Blair of Oxford.

The $8.4 million is the larg- est single cash gift in Oxford’s history.

Sara Emma “Emy” Blair graduated from Agnes Scott in 1952 with a degree in math- ematics, the third generation of women in her family to go there. She and Duane Blair, her boyfriend at Emory, mar- ried that year.

She worked as a chemist, supporting him through medical school. They moved to

Beaufort, S.C., while he served After medical school and resas a lieutenant commander in idency at the Emory School the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. of Medicine, he entered pracThey returned to Atlanta in tice as a surgeon in Decatur. 1961, and he practiced medi- He served as chief of surgery cine while she worked as his and chief of staff at DeKalb office manager for 50 years. Medical Center (now Emory She was from Stone Moun- Decatur Hospital), chaired tain and the couple settled the hospital’s board of directhere. Her father had been tors as a trustee and served public health commissioner as a member of the DeKalb of DeKalb County for 25 years, County Board of Health. helping to found — along with He died in 2015. Emy Blair Scott Candler and James Ross died in 2017.

McCain — DeKalb Medical CenThe couple designated ter, where Duane Blair would their $8 million gift to Agnes work as a surgeon. Scott for facilities improve

An Atlanta native, Duane ment and scholarships. The Blair grew up in Clarkston Emy and Duane Blair Sciand graduated from Oxford ence Scholarship Fund will College in 1948 and received provide scholarships for stuan undergraduate degree dents of the sciences beginfrom Emory College in 1950. ning this fall.