Believing Marion Wright Edelman's adage, that "service is the rent we pay to live on this earth" Ted Blunt has led a life filled with serving others. Born the third of four siblings on March 22, 1943 in Philadelphia, PA, Ted and his family were no strangers to hardships. Growing up in the housing projects of North Philadelphia they developed their shared belief in hard work and a strong family bond. The Blunt children also had a mother who always told them that they could be whatever they wanted to be. She stressed that the key to that success was education.

Knowing that education was the key, Ted became the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. Ted attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia where he demonstrated great skill and ability as an athlete and a leader. In 1961, Ted received a basketball scholarship to Winston-Salem State University, in North Carolina, where he continued his basketball career, playing with the great Earl "The Pearl" Monroe of NBA fame.

Although Ted was known as an athlete, his real passion has always been public service. He graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education; and later received a Masters of Social Work Degree from Rutgers University. His career in social work began as a juvenile gang worker for the Crime Prevention Association. He continued his work helping others at Temple University as a group therapist for the mentally challenged.

In 1969, Ted and his young family moved to Wilmington, Delaware where he would serve as the Program Director for the historic People's Settlement Association, a community-based nonprofit organization. His desire to improve lives was further realized in the field of education where Ted served children as an administrator for over 30 years in three school districts in Delaware.

In 1974, Ted accepted a position with the Red Clay Consolidated School District, and over the past thirty years, he has supervised the following programs and services: middle schools, special education schools, Special Services, Alternative Education Programs, Adult and Continuing Education Programs, Head Start, Follow Through, Groves High School, Elementary and Secondary Summer School, Title I, Title II, Title III, Drug Free Schools, Early Intervention Reading, Home Bound Instruction, Perkins Vocational Grant, Extra Time, Visiting Teachers, Student Relations Specialists, Nurses, Counselors, Latch Key Program, Summer Educational Camp Volunteer Services, Physical & Occupational Therapist, Speech Clinicians, Psychologist and Educational Diagnosticians.

Throughout his career, Ted has reached out to the community by serving in many volunteer positions. He was President of the Wilmington Youth Athletic Association, Chairman of the Wilmington Housing Authority Board, President of Haynes Park Civic Association & Chairman of the 9th Ward Democratic Club. He was Vice-Chair of the Delaware Agency For Specialized Transportation, and a Board member for the Christiana Cultural Arts Center, the Kingwood Community Center, and was appointed by the Governor to the Regional Drug Abuse Task Force. His close contacts with the Winston Salem State University Alumni and staff landed him on the Board of Trustees of his Alma Mater where he served as both the President of the Board and as Chairman of the school's Endowment Fund.

In 1985, Ted was elected to the Wilmington City Council where he served the City in many capacities including top positions on the Finance, Expenditure Review, Bond and the Audit Committees. He had key roles on the Cablevision Commission, the Board of Pensions and Retirement, the Home Ownership Corporation, and the Port Authority. Ted has also worked for the residents of the City on issues concerning housing, economic development, parks and recreation, education, and personnel. In 2000, Ted was elected President of the Wilmington City Council.

Ted's activities have won him many honors and awards. He has appreciated all their efforts on his behalf; and is especially proud of having been inducted into the Winston/Salem State University, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the James Weldon Johnson Public Housing Project, and the National Alumni of Black Colleges and Universities Halls of Fame.

Loyal to his roots, and through his many successes, Ted has put family at the forefront of his life. In 1961, he married his childhood sweetheart, Alice Latrelle Jackson. They have three successful daughters, Lisa, Thea and Marla who are also carrying on the family tradition in education and public service. They have given Ted and Latrelle five grandchildren, and continue to be a closely-knit family.