About Henry Bellmon
Farmer, Statesman, Conservationist
Born in Tonkawa in 1921, Henry Bellmon was one of 13 children. He grew up in rural Oklahoma and attended OSU (then Oklahoma A&M) during the Depression, and worked his way through college by doing odd jobs.
He joined the Marines in 1941 and fought n the Pacific Theater, including Iwo Jima, where hwas awarded the Legion of Merit and a Silver Star.
In 1946, he entered the political arena and was elected Oklahoma’s first Republican governor in 1962. He also spent two terms in the U.S. Senate (he said it was “like watching a stump rot”) and a second term as governor. Even after he resigned from elected office, he continued to serve in numerous capacities, influencing public policy and teaching at several Oklahoma universities.
Bellmon was most noted as a man of integrity and a nonconformist who did his homework and then voted his conscience, regardless of party politics or popular opinion.
He never forgot his roots, and continued to raise cattle and farm at his home near Billings. He promoted soil conservation and was instrumental in the adoption of the Clean Water Act. Whether it was building conservation terraces, waterways, and ponds, or planting a pecan grove, he was active until his death in 2009.
Dear Sustainable Tulsa & Tulsa South Side Rotary Club-
Thank you so much for naming the sustainability awards after our father, Henry Bellmon. We are very honored to have his name attached to such a meaningful award. Dad loved the land and never tired of teaching us about nature and its beauty and mystery. We hope to honor his legacy by teaching others and continuing to find better ways to live more sustainably with Earth.
Sincerely,
Pat Hoerth, Ann McFerron, and Gail WynneHenry Bellmon’s daughters
