Nat H. Youngblood

Nat H. Youngblood, 92 of West Middletown, Pa. and formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Evansville, Ind., died Friday morning, December 18, 2009 in his home. He was born December 28, 1916 in Evansville, a son of the late Nat Howard and Geraldine (Pote) Youngblood. In his youth, Mr. Youngblood obtained the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. and was inspired at the University of New Mexico in the fine arts, creative writing and archeology. He also attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Mr. Youngbood was awarded a scholarship to attend the Harwood Foundation in Taos, N. M. During World War II, Mr. Youngblood served with the 101st Airborne Division of the U. S. Army in the European Theater and was awarded a Purple Heart. Following his education and service to his country, he submitted his combat sketches to Scripps Howard newspaper offices and was hired by Editor E. T. Leech as an artist for the Pittsburgh Press. In 1963, he was appointed the Art Director of the Pittsburgh Press. Over the next 30 years, Mr. Youngblood produced an estimated 400 color paintings and illustrations for the Pittsburgh Press' Roto and Family Magazine sections of the newspaper. In 1961, on assignment from Metro Group Syndicate in New York, president-elect, John F. Kennedy, agreed to have Mr. Youngblood ride with him on his personal airplane to Florida. Of all of his assignments to produce portraits of national and international figures, the Kennedy experience was the most exciting. The artist included action sketches of the president elect as part of his assignment. In 1976, on his own initiative, Mr. Youngblood proposed the idea of producing ten major oil paintings entitled "The American Pioneer" depicting the life of Pittsburgh citizens in 1776 for the National Bicentennial Celebration. The Pittsburgh Press allowed him a leave of absence and donated the ten four feet by five feet paintings to the permanent collection of the Fort Pitt Museum at Point Park, Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1980, Mr. Youngblood retired from the Pittsburgh Press. He established a studio in West Middletown, Pa. to further his career and turned his attention to the interests of his youth, Native American art. In 1981, Mr. Youngblood and his wife, Sandra, began on an extensive tour of the American Southwest. They took with them ideas and paintings he had produced the year before. He was represented by galleries in Santa Fe, N. M. and Scottsdale, Ariz. where he hosted several one man shows. Mr. Youngblood also participated in the Artist of America International Show in Denver for 14 years. Mr. Youngblood has been active with numerous national exhibits and his work has been acquired by museums and countless collectors across the country. He produced hundreds of paintings of the city of Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania and the American Southwest. In the early 1950's, Mr. Youngblood was a founding member of the Christian organization, the Pittsburgh Experiment. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper Saint Clair and taught Sunday School at the Grove United Presbyterian Church in West Middletown. Surviving in addition to his wife, Sandra L. Wilsman Youngblood, who he married on October 4, 1980, are a son, Nat Youngblood and his wife, Martha of Albuquerque, N. M.; two daughters, Dorothy Ann Cisneros of San Antonio, Tex. and Sandra L. Rice of Phoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren, James Youngblood, Kevin Youngblood, Tatum Cisneros, Max Cisneros and Suzanne Youngblood; three great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Ann Corrigan of Evansville, Ind. and Geraldine Tobias of Chapel Hill, N. C. and nine nieces and nephews. Deceased are a brother, Morris Youngblood and the mother of his children, Margaret (Tatum) Youngblood. Family and friends are welcome to attend a graveside service at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, December 21, 2009 at the West Middletown Cemetery, West Middletown, Pa. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Pittsburgh Experiment 325 Oliver Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2403 or to the Grove United Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 88, West Middletown, PA 15379.
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