Oklahoma Governor, US Senator. He was the first Republican to hold the Governor's chair in his home state. Bellmon graduated from Billings High School, then earned a degree in agriculture from Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State) in 1942. He served in the US Marine Corps, commanding a tank platoon, from 1942 until 1946, and was awarded the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit for action in the South Pacific. Bellmon had one term in the state legislature, from 1946 to 1948, was state Republican chairman in 1960, and, in 1962, was elected Governor. Unable to succeed himself under the law of the time, he ran for the US Senate in 1968; he won, and held the seat until 1980, becoming the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee at his retirement. After taking a second turn as Governor from 1987 to 1991, during which he chaired the Southern States Energy Board, he returned to his agricultural interests. He ran his family farm, and taught at various state colleges, including Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma. Bellmon died after having Parkinson's Disease for a number of years.
Oklahoma Governor, US Senator. He was the first Republican to hold the Governor's chair in his home state. Bellmon graduated from Billings High School, then earned a degree in agriculture from Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State) in 1942. He served in the US Marine Corps, commanding a tank platoon, from 1942 until 1946, and was awarded the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit for action in the South Pacific. Bellmon had one term in the state legislature, from 1946 to 1948, was state Republican chairman in 1960, and, in 1962, was elected Governor. Unable to succeed himself under the law of the time, he ran for the US Senate in 1968; he won, and held the seat until 1980, becoming the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee at his retirement. After taking a second turn as Governor from 1987 to 1991, during which he chaired the Southern States Energy Board, he returned to his agricultural interests. He ran his family farm, and taught at various state colleges, including Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma. Bellmon died after having Parkinson's Disease for a number of years.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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