Thomas C."Blackie" Blackburn

Thomas Charles Blackburn, 53, of Topeka, Kansas passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Memorial services will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4th.

Tom was born February 1, 1960 in Topeka to Jim and Barbara Miller Blackburn. He is survived by his two children, Patrick and Lauren both of Prairie Village, KS; his parents Jim and Barbara Blackburn; a brother, Brett (Suzy) of Topeka; a sister, Linda of Hutchinson; and the mother of his children, Nancy Blackburn; and her parents, Don Bohannan and Shirley Bohannan. He is also survived by many other close relatives including his aunt, uncle, nephews, niece and cousins.

"Blackie" graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1978. He attended the University of Kansas earning a BS Degree in Business Administration and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance. At KU, he was on the Dean's Honor Roll and a member of the Graduate Business Council. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He began a successful business career in the financial services industry in 1984 at Merrill Lynch and subsequently served as producer, syndicate manager and OTC trader for Piper Jaffray and Stern Brothers. He joined Kansas Venture Capital in 1988 and served as President and CEO from 2002 to 2006. Since 2006 Tom built a practice as an independent contractor for financial service firms and businesses seeking consulting and financial advisory services. Since 2009, his full time engagement has been with Insurance Designers of Kansas City as a business development professional.

Tom was involved with various organizations and trade groups. He was a board member of the Kansas City Securities Association from 1988 to 2010, serving as President in 1998. He served on the Board of both the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies and the Regional Association of Small Business Investment Companies (President 1997). He also served the State of Kansas as a Board Member of the Kansas Development Finance Authority from 2000 thru 2002.

Blackie had a diverse group of friends from his old neighborhood, high school, KU, social friends and business relationships. He liked fun, frolic and heckling, but was always there for a friend in need. Throughout his life, he loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing or just watching nature. He enjoyed all types of sports, particularly Jayhawk sports, especially hoops. He enjoyed landscaping, which he learned at the age of six, when he began working in the family business after school, during the summers and on holidays.

Blackie's most cherished roll was that of Dad. He dearly loved Patrick and Lauren and felt very blessed to have two wonderful children. He enjoyed coaching and watching "PBoy" grow into "PMan". He enjoyed watching "Lolo" in soccer, and watching her dance and fish, where she usually out fished all. Mostly, he loved spending time with them at the farm, home or anywhere, just chillin' out.

Tom requested memorial contributions be sent to the Kansas City Securities Association Educational Fund. http://www.gkccf.org/scholarships/kansas-city-
securities-association-educational-fund, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, 1055 Broadway, Ste 130, Kansas City, MO 64105 or Topeka Rescue Mission, PO Box 8350, Topeka, KS 66608 or the Topeka Boys and Girls Clubs, 550 SE 27th, Topeka, KS 66605.