Until his retirement, Blair Testin was a legislative staff person who staffed the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems (JSCRS) and the Director of the Retirement Research Committee (RRC). The JSCRS is composed of an equal number of legislators from each house of the Legislature and represents both political parties.

Blair Testin was probably the most knowledgeable authority on public retirement systems in the nation. He gathered information on over 80 public pension systems across the country and compiled the data for comparative purposes. His report was considered the "gold standard" by pension officials and policymakers. As a result, other public pension systems sought out his expertise.

During the late 1980s and into 1991, when the Coalition was struggling to find common ground and put together an organization to represent retirees within the Wisconsin Retirement System, Blair Testin was always available and extraordinarily helpful with his expertise and inside knowledge. Having ready access to a real insider gave the Coalition a view not only of what really existed but what was on track and what was likely be going on in the legislature with respect to the WRS. Even after his retirement Blair Testin was our confidence and advisor.

Because Blair was so very helpful, it was decided to present an annual award to an individual or to persons deemed exceptionally significant in the maintenance, operation or enhancement of the Wisconsin Retirement System