FEET OF CLAY

About the Book

About the Author

Roger Blank was born in the small community of Dewey, Illinois, on May 3, 1919. His father and mother, Daniel Frederick Blank and L. Hortense Scoggin, were of German, Dutch, French, English, and Scotch-Irish descent. Both had farming backgrounds, although Blank was not raised on a farm. Blank attended the University of Illinois and Chicago University, majoring in business administration and industrial management. Prior to World War II, he was active as a member of the Town and Gown Players at Millikin University and little theater in Decatur, Illinois, with lead roles in “Our Town” and “The Old Maid.” In 1942 Blank enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army, subsequently graduating from Tank Destroyer Officer Candidate School. In 1944 he was assigned to the 228th Mine Detection Engineers (War Dogs) as executive officer and later promoted to commanding officer. He was reassigned to radio communications at Peninsular Base headquarters in Italy, reporting to Gen. Francis Oxx, and promoted to the rank of captain in 1945. He returned home in January 1946 at the end of World War II. After the war, Blank held a series of temporary jobs, including one with the War Assets Administration at Tinker Field near Oklahoma City, certifying veterans for purchases of war assets such as jeeps, typewriters, etc. He and his father briefly operated a poultry hatchery in Britton, Oklahoma. In 1948 Blank joined Wilson & Co., Inc., as a provision department trainee in Oklahoma City. In the 1950s he was active as a founding member, trainer, and president of the Oklahoma City Dog Obedience Club. He also found time to participate in the Mayde Mack Mummers’ productions of “Summer and Smoke” and “The World Within.” After a series of promotions at Wilson, Blank was transferred in 1961 to Chicago company headquarters as hog procurement manager of all 11 plants, moving into fresh pork sales and product development. Subsequently he was promoted to general plant manager of the Wilson plant at Monmouth, Illinois, retiring in 1976. Blank worked as a consultant for the National Farmers Organization from 1977 to 1981. In 1985 he moved to San Luis Obispo County on California’s Central Coast, becoming a real estate agent for 16 years in the Paso Robles area, with his last affiliation with RE/MAX Realty before his retirement in 2001. He was also active in the Project Area Committee’s redevelopment of Paso Robles. Blank raised Arabian horses for 26 years and had the pleasure of owning Aiglon, a two-time International Top Ten Champion. Blank served as president of the Northern Illinois Arabian Horse Activity Club from 1966 to 1968, and as a member of the World Arabian Horse Organization.