Runnymede Vice President Blee Dies at Age 66

David Blee, the vice president of Runnymede Farm in Paris, Ky., and a co-founder and member of the board with the Kentucky Equine Education Project, died Dec. 29. He was 66.

Blee began his association with historic Runnymede as a shareholder in 2001 before being named an officer in 2005, counseling on strategic, bloodstock, and racing matters. His knowledge extended to breeding and pinhooking syndicates.

Established on family property in 1867 by Col. Ezekiel Clay, Runnymede has bred and raised racehorses for more than 150 years. Runnymede and its chairman, Catesby W. Clay, bred and sold Lady Eli, the champion female turf horse of 2017.

In addition to his work in the racing industry, Blee was an expert in the nuclear industry, serving as U.S. deputy assistant secretary of energy, as the Department of Energy's director of public affairs, and as a Capitol Hill chief of staff. He was also managing director of the Forrestal Group, a strategic management consulting group, and had been an executive for NAC International, an energy services group, and for Robinson, Lake, Lerer, and Montgomery, a Washington- and New York-headquartered strategic communications company.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Biz) Clay Blee; children Cooper, Elizabeth, and Augustus Blee; and brothers Richard, John, and Robert and twin sister Elizabeth.

Visitation is Jan. 2 from 5-8 p.m. ET, with a vigil service from 8-8:30 p.m. at Milward Funeral Home, 159 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY 40507. A funeral mass will be held Jan. 3 at 11 a.m. at Church of the Annunciation, 1007 Main St., Paris, KY 40361. Another memorial mass will be held at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3513 N. St. NW, Washington, DC 20007 Jan. 13 at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Leadership Training Program in Bethesda, Md., or to the Georgetown Preparatory School Scholarship Fund.