Blasingame, Lee A.

Lee A. Blasingame, a native son born on Big Dry Creek in Fresno County, emerged as a prominent figure in both local finance and agriculture. He received his early education at the public school in Academy before pursuing higher learning for over two years at the Methodist College at Santa Rosa. To gain practical training, he completed a course at Heald’s Business College in San Francisco before entering the professional world. He began his career in Fresno as a bookkeeper for the First National Bank and was later promoted to cashier, a responsible position he held successfully for five years.

Seeking new opportunities, he resigned from the bank to partner with his brother, Alfred Blasingame, in farming and stock-raising operations focused on cattle and sheep. Operating from their headquarters on the old Blasingame ranch, he also turned his attention to viticulture by developing a valuable 145-acre vineyard located seven miles northeast of Fresno. He actively supported vineyard organizations and applied modern, up-to-date devices to solve agricultural problems. Beyond his business interests, he became a popular member of the Fresno Lodge of Elks, the Sequoia Club in Fresno, and the Bohemian Club of San Francisco.