'Voice' has Benkelman ties

BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- The son of a Benkelman, Nebraska, couple is a member of the crew of "The Voice," a singing competition reality television show that won an Emmy award in September.

Matthew Blair, the son of Tom and Rosemary Blair of Benkelman, and "The Voice" cast won the Emmy for "Best Reality Competition Series."

The Benkelman Post newspaper reports that Matthew Blair lived in Benkelman through first grade, and graduated from high school in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. At the University of Colorado at Boulder, he earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in film studies in 1997.

Blair has worked post-production for television shows "Survivor," "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" and "The Apprentice." In 2009, the editing crew of "The Apprentice" was nominated for an Emmy.

Blair credits Benkelman's Zorn Theatre in part for his interest in television and film production. He is quoted on the front page of the Post, saying, "Some of my earliest memories are of my mom taking me to the Zorn Theatre."

Blair has also worked on "Man on Fire," "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," "Crossing Jordan" and "The Casino."