Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis Bellmon (September 3, 1921 – September 29, 2009) was an American Republican politician from the U.S. State of Oklahoma. A member of the Oklahoma Legislature, he went on to become both the 18th and 23rd governor of Oklahoma, mainly in the 1960s and again in the 1980s, as well as a two-term United States Senator in the 1970s. He was the first Republican to serve as Governor of Oklahoma and, after his direct predecessor George Nigh, only the second governor to be reelected.
Henry Bellmon | |
|---|---|
| 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma | |
| In office January 12, 1987 – January 14, 1991 | |
| Lieutenant | Robert S. Kerr III |
| Preceded by | George Nigh |
| Succeeded by | David Walters |
| In office January 14, 1963 – January 9, 1967 | |
| Lieutenant | Leo Winters |
| Preceded by | George Nigh |
| Succeeded by | Dewey F. Bartlett |
| United States Senator from Oklahoma | |
| In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Monroney |
| Succeeded by | Don Nickles |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from Noble County | |
| In office January 7, 1947 – January 4, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Robert R. McCubbins |
| Succeeded by | F. C. Seids |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Henry Louis Bellmon September 3, 1921 Tonkawa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | September 29, 2009 (aged 88) Enid, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Resting place | Billings Union Cemetery, Noble County, Oklahoma 36°30′20.2″N 97°24′59″W |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Shirley Osborn
(m. 1947; died 2000)Eloise Morsman Bollenbach
(m. 2002) |
| Alma mater | Oklahoma A & M |
| Occupation | farmer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II Pacific theater Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Silver Star Legion of Merit |
A World War II veteran, Bellmon served a single term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, before running for governor. After serving in the U.S. Senate, he returned to serve again as governor and was responsible for passing a large education reform package. He died in 2009 after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease.