William Blair Putnam

Obituary Notice

William Blair Putnam, 85, died Monday, June 16, 2003 in Little Rock. He was born October 31, 1917 in Campbell, Missouri. He served his country as a fighter pilot in WW II (136th Fighter Bomber Wing) and the Korean War (182nd Fighter Bomber Squadron) and flew 100 missions in each War.
Bill began his business career in insurance and was a former Vice President of Guaranty Insurance Corporation and headed its affiliate The Universal Insurance Company. In 1948 he formed Putnam Realty and "imagineered" numerous real estate developments in Little Rock for the past 45 years and was an appraiser. He served two terms (1970-73; 1991-93) on the Little Rock Planning Commission. In the mid-60's, he was a shareholder of The Shack at Third and Victory.

Putt-Putt's joie de vivre was playing and practicing golf and bird hunting. He was the unofficial golf instructor at Pleasant Valley Country Club for the past 35 years imparting his knowledge of golf to legions of willing and unwilling students. No doubt he is now showing God, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, and old Tom Morris how to improve their golf games.

Bill was a giving person and helped many people down on their luck and was honored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was a member of St. James United Methodist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lita Putnam, his daughter, Cathy Putnam, and his brother, Tracy Putnam. He is survived by his son, David Putnam, of Austin, Texas, three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, a host of golfing students, and his PVCC "gangsome" understudies.

A burial service officiated by Dr.Guy Whitney will be held 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 19 at Roselawn Cemetery under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com . Due to libation restrictions, there will be no visitation at the funeral home, but his well-trained understudies will gather to imbibe in light hors d'oeuvres and heavy cocktails. Keep your head down, left arm straight, turn, fire out with the right hip….

Register Book

• Brian Minyard
  City of Little Rock Planning and Development
  Little Rock, Arkansas
• Dana Carney
  City of Little Rock Planning and Development
  Little Rock, Arkansas
• James Edward and Mary Jo Lusk
  Little Rock, Arkansas
• Jane & Curtis Homeyer
  Little Rock, Arkansas

• Bill was our kind, considerate neighbor on the 18th floor of One Union National Plaza. He often took time to share a thoughtful comment and encouraging word--and lots of warm hugs or pats on the back. His positive outlook on life was contagious, and he was quick to recognize and appreciate a fellow optimist. Bill enthusiastically reached out to connect meaningfully with others, and his buoyant personality was a joy to experience. We know he loved us because he told us so. We love him, too, and will miss him every day.
  Ann Marshall, Polly Ramer, Linda Bryant, Margie Powell, Horace Smith, Gene Jones
  Office of Desegregation Monitoring 
  Little Rock, Arkansas
  

• Bill was a great real estate man who really helped me a lot. He was as gracious as he was brilliant-a rare combination.
  Baker Kurrus 
  Vice President and General Counsel, The Winrock Group, Inc.
  Little Rock, Arkansas

• Perhaps the ultimate testament to a man's legacy is the son and grandsons he left behind.
  Those of us here in Austin know and respect his son and grandsons. In the brief glimpse that we got of all three generations when Kyle graduated from the University of Texas, the generosity, temperament, feistiness, and talent that started at the top obviously didn't get watered down too much in the gene pool!
  Make no mistake, like Father, like Son ... they did it "their way"! David is truly brilliant, frequently warm when appropriate and a good friend ... who's loss we regret.
  Milton R. Jones 
  Neighbor and Friend of David
  Austin, Texas
  Email: milton.jones@prodigy.net

• Bill and I first met in 1997 when the accounting firm I work for sent me on an assignment to Putnam Realty. As a hunter, I enjoyed Bill's stories of duck hunting trips to Stuttgart during a time when getting there was more than half the fun. I always looked forward to my yearly visit to Putnam Realty because I knew Bill would have a good story for me. Bill was a good man who had a great life and will be dearly missed.
  Jay Clark 
  Gaunt & Company, LTD 
  Little Rock, Arkansas
  Email: gauntco@aol.com

• Seth Hickman
  Formerly of Beach Abstract 
  Conway, Arkansas

• James Hickman 
  Marlar Engineering 
  Conway, Arkansas
• Monte Moore
  Department of Planning and Development
  Little Rock, Arkansas
• Bill was a wonderful leader, with a great wit. It was a pleasure to serve with him on the Planning Commission.
  Bob Lowry
  Little Rock, Arkansas

• How I shall miss Bill's twinkle--and his admonitions to those of us on the Planning Commission to quit "talking things to death." It was a privilege to know him and work with him.
  Judith Faust 
  Little Rock, Arkansas

• Walter Malone, AICP
  Planning Manager
  Little Rock, Arkansas
• Glenn Haley 
  City of Little Rock, Public Works Department 
  Little Rock, Arkansas