Basil Blackburn, Jr., also known by many as "Mr. B", passed away at 94 on Saturday August 1, 2020. Born in 1926 in Elwood, Indiana, Basil was a Master Mason and a Navy Veteran who served in the Pacific Fleet in World War II until 1946. He married Arlene in 1944 and had four sons, Stephen, Larry, Kenneth and Randal. In the late 1950's they moved to Tulsa and opened their first fast food place, Town Talk Snack Shop on North Harvard. Basil became active in youth sports, eventually becoming president of the Tulsa Junior Athletic Association (TJAA). In the 60's he purchased Boots Drive In on South Sheridan, where he picked up the nickname "Mr. B." from all the teenagers who made Boots their main hangout. He also had a floating restaurant at the same time at Whitehorn Cove on Fort Gibson Lake. In the 1970's he invested in the Argentina Steak House on South Lewis and became the manager and part-owner.

A popular creation of Basil's at the Argentina was steakfingers and gravy and later, this became a booth at the Tulsa State Fair, with profits shared with Highland Park DeMolay, who staffed the massive booth inside the IPE building. Many will remember Basil from that booth at the fair, both DeMolay who worked there and patrons who ate there every year. "Dad" Blackburn was very active in the Highland Park DeMolay, especially in fundraising. Basil lost his wife, Arlene, to cancer in 1979.

After that loss, Basil worked a few years longer at the Argentina but parted ways in 1981 to open the Steakfinger House downtown at 4th and Boulder. At the Steakfinger House he met Virginia Ann Cox (Annie) and started a new life with her, getting married in 1985. Basil lost Annie to a stroke in 1998 and poured even more time into his downtown restaurant. He was a popular and well-known figure in downtown Tulsa. Shortly after his son, Larry, also working with him at the Steakfinger House, passed away suddenly, Basil had to sell the restaurant and formally retire at 89 years of age. He had worked from 5am - 3pm every day while downtown and retirement was not easy for him. He loved the downtown patrons of the Steakfinger House so much and missed everyone terribly. His legacy of steakfingers lives on with the new owner of the Steakfinger House, still downtown.

Towards the end of his life he was interviewed and featured in a book about Tulsa restaurants called "The Lost Restaurants Of Tulsa", talking about his years at Boots, the Argentina, and downtown. Rhys Martin, the author, stated "He was very much loved by so many people here in Tulsa. Any time I posted to Facebook about his restaurants people came out of the woodwork to say how nice he was." He lived in Houston for a while and then moved back to Oklahoma to live at the Veterans Home in Claremore until he passed away.

Basil is survived by his son, Randal Blackburn, daughter-in-law Sarah Blackburn, daughter-in-law Teruko Blackburn, grandchildren Rodney, Chris, Linda, Angela and Kenneth, and many, many great-grandchildren and even great-great grandchildren.

Basil was dearly loved by family and friends and will be missed by many.

Viewings are at Moore's Funeral Home - Southlawn, at 9350 East 51st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday and Thursday from 10AM - 8PM, and on Friday morning. Funeral services will be a small family gathering at 2:30P Friday afternoon, August 7th. The funeral will be available for live-streaming for those not attending through this obituary page.

https://www.moorefuneral.com/obituaries/Basil-Blackburn/#!/TributeWall
www.tulsaworld.com/obituaries/basil-blackburn-longtime-owner-of-boots-drive-in-and-steakfinger-house-dies-at-94/article_3f98a72d-dffa-5f9a-852b-85507a135768.html