Blair Holt, was shot and killed on a CTA bus last Thursday, becoming a hero in the act. A bus videotape shows Blair -- the 16-year-old son of a Chicago Police officer and fire captain -- turning his body as if to protect another girl. Three other students were wounded. Holt's father told reporters he believes his son was trying to shield the girl from the gunman's bullets when he died. "I'm so proud of him," said Ronald Holt, who has worked on gang crimes. "He gave his life to save another life. . . . I taught him courage. He was a good kid. I miss him."
Blair Holt would have been 17 in June, a junior at Julian High School, planning for college.Blair planned to major in business administration at Georgia's Clark Atlanta University, but he wanted to make a living busting rhymes like his idols Ice Cube, N.W.A. and LL Cool J -- all artists he saw in concert with his mother.The teenager with a weakness for Air Jordan shoes and the Temptations often recorded music at a local studio and would pass out his demo CDs to friends at school. He also had a rap moniker for himself: "Busy B."
He was a wonderful, wonderful son." said Ron Holt, He was a polite, good student who was adored by both his teachers and his peers."He would always kiss us and tell us he loved us," Blair's grandmother, Juanita Nance, said. Pointing to her husband Calvin -- who is suffering from Alzheimer's -- Nance, 81, sighed and said, "Blair. That's the only name he remembers."
His mother last saw Blair when she dropped him off school Thursday with her usual parting words, "Do good, Blair."
"OK," he replied. Hours later, Blair would be dead.
For the more than 3,500 people gathered at the church — students, parents, cops, firefighters, teachers, babies — this was a celebration of Blair's life, even though it had tragically been cut short. Ronald Holt said he'll miss talking to his son, an aspiring rapper, about music and is crushed he will not see him get his driver's license or go to his high school prom. He said he was "humbled" by the outpouring of support for his family following the shooting.
"It's much harder to reconcile with laying your child to rest when it was the result of a violent act," Ron Holt said. And while "the tragedy is overwhelming and horrific," he believes his son is in a "better place spiritually.
The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters Association has set up a fund in memory of Blair Holt.
Contributions are being accepted at:
The Blair Holt Scholarship Fund
Seaway National Bank
P.O. Box 19522
Chicago, IL 60619
Attn: Personal Banking
773/487-4800
Blair Holt would have been 17 in June, a junior at Julian High School, planning for college.Blair planned to major in business administration at Georgia's Clark Atlanta University, but he wanted to make a living busting rhymes like his idols Ice Cube, N.W.A. and LL Cool J -- all artists he saw in concert with his mother.The teenager with a weakness for Air Jordan shoes and the Temptations often recorded music at a local studio and would pass out his demo CDs to friends at school. He also had a rap moniker for himself: "Busy B."
He was a wonderful, wonderful son." said Ron Holt, He was a polite, good student who was adored by both his teachers and his peers."He would always kiss us and tell us he loved us," Blair's grandmother, Juanita Nance, said. Pointing to her husband Calvin -- who is suffering from Alzheimer's -- Nance, 81, sighed and said, "Blair. That's the only name he remembers."
His mother last saw Blair when she dropped him off school Thursday with her usual parting words, "Do good, Blair."
"OK," he replied. Hours later, Blair would be dead.
For the more than 3,500 people gathered at the church — students, parents, cops, firefighters, teachers, babies — this was a celebration of Blair's life, even though it had tragically been cut short. Ronald Holt said he'll miss talking to his son, an aspiring rapper, about music and is crushed he will not see him get his driver's license or go to his high school prom. He said he was "humbled" by the outpouring of support for his family following the shooting.
"It's much harder to reconcile with laying your child to rest when it was the result of a violent act," Ron Holt said. And while "the tragedy is overwhelming and horrific," he believes his son is in a "better place spiritually.
The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters Association has set up a fund in memory of Blair Holt.
Contributions are being accepted at:
The Blair Holt Scholarship Fund
Seaway National Bank
P.O. Box 19522
Chicago, IL 60619
Attn: Personal Banking
773/487-4800
Blair Holt, was shot and killed on a CTA bus last Thursday, becoming a hero in the act. A bus videotape shows Blair -- the 16-year-old son of a Chicago Police officer and fire captain -- turning his body as if to protect another girl. Three other students were wounded. Holt's father told reporters he believes his son was trying to shield the girl from the gunman's bullets when he died. "I'm so proud of him," said Ronald Holt, who has worked on gang crimes. "He gave his life to save another life. . . . I taught him courage. He was a good kid. I miss him."
Blair Holt would have been 17 in June, a junior at Julian High School, planning for college.Blair planned to major in business administration at Georgia's Clark Atlanta University, but he wanted to make a living busting rhymes like his idols Ice Cube, N.W.A. and LL Cool J -- all artists he saw in concert with his mother.The teenager with a weakness for Air Jordan shoes and the Temptations often recorded music at a local studio and would pass out his demo CDs to friends at school. He also had a rap moniker for himself: "Busy B."
He was a wonderful, wonderful son." said Ron Holt, He was a polite, good student who was adored by both his teachers and his peers."He would always kiss us and tell us he loved us," Blair's grandmother, Juanita Nance, said. Pointing to her husband Calvin -- who is suffering from Alzheimer's -- Nance, 81, sighed and said, "Blair. That's the only name he remembers."
His mother last saw Blair when she dropped him off school Thursday with her usual parting words, "Do good, Blair."
"OK," he replied. Hours later, Blair would be dead.
For the more than 3,500 people gathered at the church — students, parents, cops, firefighters, teachers, babies — this was a celebration of Blair's life, even though it had tragically been cut short. Ronald Holt said he'll miss talking to his son, an aspiring rapper, about music and is crushed he will not see him get his driver's license or go to his high school prom. He said he was "humbled" by the outpouring of support for his family following the shooting.
"It's much harder to reconcile with laying your child to rest when it was the result of a violent act," Ron Holt said. And while "the tragedy is overwhelming and horrific," he believes his son is in a "better place spiritually.
The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters Association has set up a fund in memory of Blair Holt.
Contributions are being accepted at:
The Blair Holt Scholarship Fund
Seaway National Bank
P.O. Box 19522
Chicago, IL 60619
Attn: Personal Banking
773/487-4800
Blair Holt would have been 17 in June, a junior at Julian High School, planning for college.Blair planned to major in business administration at Georgia's Clark Atlanta University, but he wanted to make a living busting rhymes like his idols Ice Cube, N.W.A. and LL Cool J -- all artists he saw in concert with his mother.The teenager with a weakness for Air Jordan shoes and the Temptations often recorded music at a local studio and would pass out his demo CDs to friends at school. He also had a rap moniker for himself: "Busy B."
He was a wonderful, wonderful son." said Ron Holt, He was a polite, good student who was adored by both his teachers and his peers."He would always kiss us and tell us he loved us," Blair's grandmother, Juanita Nance, said. Pointing to her husband Calvin -- who is suffering from Alzheimer's -- Nance, 81, sighed and said, "Blair. That's the only name he remembers."
His mother last saw Blair when she dropped him off school Thursday with her usual parting words, "Do good, Blair."
"OK," he replied. Hours later, Blair would be dead.
For the more than 3,500 people gathered at the church — students, parents, cops, firefighters, teachers, babies — this was a celebration of Blair's life, even though it had tragically been cut short. Ronald Holt said he'll miss talking to his son, an aspiring rapper, about music and is crushed he will not see him get his driver's license or go to his high school prom. He said he was "humbled" by the outpouring of support for his family following the shooting.
"It's much harder to reconcile with laying your child to rest when it was the result of a violent act," Ron Holt said. And while "the tragedy is overwhelming and horrific," he believes his son is in a "better place spiritually.
The International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters Association has set up a fund in memory of Blair Holt.
Contributions are being accepted at:
The Blair Holt Scholarship Fund
Seaway National Bank
P.O. Box 19522
Chicago, IL 60619
Attn: Personal Banking
773/487-4800
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