Harvey B. Bair, a former co-owner and partner in a Carroll County development company, died March 10 of kidney failure at his Westminster home. He was 81.

The son of Scott Slaybaugh Bair Sr., a developer, and Anita Bankard Bair, a homemaker, Harvey Bankard Bair was born in Baltimore and raised in Westminster.

He graduated in 1953 from Westminster High School. In 1959, he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial management from the University of Maryland, College Park.

He began his business career at the Black & Decker Corp. while attending college and worked there until being drafted into the Army in 1959.

After being discharged in 1961, he joined the family real estate and investment business, Development Co. of America. The firm had been established by his father in 1954, and Mr. Bair assisted his father in managing properties developed and owned by the company.

In 1975, he was named a partner in the company and was a co-owner until 2012, when he retired.

During his career he managed the construction, expansion and maintenance of such properties as the IRS Mid-Atlantic Service Center in Philadelphia and the original IRS National Computer Center in Martinsburg, W.Va.

Some of the other projects he was involved with included the Salisbury Mall on the Eastern Shore and expansion of the company's real estate portfolio to include work with many Fortune 500 companies, family members said.

He also held the position of president or vice president in most of DCA's entities.

The longtime Westminster resident served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees, to which he and his wife contributed, family members said.

Mr. Bair was a member of the board of Union National Bank before its merger with Westminster Bank and Trust Co., and was chairman of the board for a number of years.

He was a former member of the Maryland Bankers Association.

Forty years ago, Mr. Bair began purchasing boats, and enjoyed sailing and exploring the Chesapeake Bay.

He also enjoyed reading, woodworking and gardening.

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster.

At Mr. Bair's request, no services will be held.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Ruth Ann Hering; two sons, R. Gregory Bair of Little Valley, N.Y., and Thomas A. Bair of Hagerstown; three brothers, Henry N. Bair, Emerson F. Bair and Glenn S. Bair, all of Westminster; a sister, Elizabeth A. Bair of Westminster; and many nieces and nephews.

— Frederick N. Rasmussen