Roll Call Tribute

William Keenan Blewett 

July 15, 1947 - August 2, 2024 

William Keenan "Bill" Blewett, 77, died peacefully at home in Bel Air, Maryland on Friday August 2nd, 2024, after a courageous two-year battle with leukemia.

Bill was a father, grandfather, coach, runner, sportswriter, mechanical and industrial engineer, author, and Harford County community leader.

Born on July 15th, 1947 to Mildred Marie (Haggard) Blewett and David Henry Blewett, Bill was raised in Lawton, Oklahoma. He discovered a lifelong passion for running in high school, eventually leading the Sooner team at the University of Oklahoma and competing in the 1968 Olympic Trials (marathon) and running a 4.02.1 personal best 1-mile. Throughout his life, Bill devoted himself to coaching, teaching, and mentoring young runners. He created and hosted dozens of community races for youth and adults in Harford County.

Bill moved to Harford County, Maryland in 1974 and began his 35-year career as an engineer for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense program at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, ultimately becoming expert in his field. After his retirement from the Government, he worked as a Senior Scientist for Battelle, Inc. until 2012.

Bill's second career as a freelance sportswriter and columnist for The Aegis and The Baltimore Sun began in 1981 and lasted 41 years. He also authored two books, "The Science of the Fastball" (2008) and "Fifty Years a Runner" (2023).

Bill is survived by his wife Joann (Kolarik) Blewett, his three children, John David "JD" Blewett, Daniel Henry Blewett, and Anne Elizabeth (Blewett) Arroyo, and grandchildren Theodore "Teddy" Arroyo, Ruby Arroyo, and Ada Arroyo. Other survivors include his sister Eugenie (Blewett) Kelsey of Lawton, Oklahoma, brother Charles Blewett of Edmond, Oklahoma, and brother Thomas Blewett of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD on Monday, August 12th, 2024. There will be a visitation with the family from 9:30am-11am, and a service from 11am-12pm. Join the family in wearing your favorite running/exercise shoes to honor Bill. In lieu of flowers, Bill requested that donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Harford and Cecil County and Inner County Outreach.

Published by Baltimore Sun on Aug. 7, 2024.