Tulsa World: State mourns GOP giant

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State mourns GOP giant
Ex-governor, senator dies at 88

Henry Bellmon is seen outside his home near Billings in 2001. The man who made the GOP a force in state politics died Tuesday in Enid after battling Parkinson's disease. He will lie in state at the Capitol in Oklahoma City from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.Tulsa World file

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 9/30/2009 2:32 AM
Last Modified: 9/30/2009 6:04 AM

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What leaders are saying

Henry Bellmon Timeline

Henry Bellmon, the plain-spoken farmer who made the Republican Party a force in Oklahoma politics, died Tuesday after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 88.

Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat, said he considered Bellmon a mentor, despite their party differences. He called Bellmon the greatest man he had ever known.

"He was a quiet but very effective leader," Henry said. "He always stressed deeds over words, action over discussion. He was one of those rare public officials who always did what he thought was right, regardless of the political consequences."

Henry ordered that all state flags be flown at half-staff.

A family spokesman said Bellmon, who died in an Enid hospital, will lie in state at the Capitol from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, with funeral services planned for Oklahoma City and Perry on Saturday. Services are under the direction of Dugger Funeral Home of Billings.

A Republican trailblazer: In 1962, Bellmon became the first Republican elected governor of Oklahoma. He went on to serve

two terms in the U.S. Senate and a second term as governor almost a quarter-century after the first.

He left active politics in 1991 after his second term as governor, but remained involved in public policy.

Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Justice Robert Henry, who was Oklahoma's Democratic attorney general during Bellmon's second term as governor, said he and Bellmon spoke only a few weeks ago about education reform.

"He wanted to know what the next step should be," Robert Henry said.

Direct, independent and unpretentious, Bellmon was in many ways the quintessential 20th-century Oklahoman. One of 13 children raised on a Noble County farm, Bellmon worked his way through Oklahoma A&M College and won distinction as a Marine tank commander during World War II.

He did not smoke or drink, was never tainted by scandal, and said more by arching an eyebrow than most of his colleagues did in an hour-long speech.

"He was a man of few words," said former Republican state Sen. Charles Ford of Tulsa, "but you always knew where he stood."

"Politics is people," Bellmon wrote in his 1992 autobiography, "people of all kinds: rich and poor, smart and dumb, honest and dishonest, good and bad. A successful politician has the instinctive ability to see through pretense and to understand the character and motives of others."

Education reform: Bellmon's crowning achievement, a landmark education funding and reform measure known as House Bill 1017, alienated him from many in his own party. Bellmon and legislative Democrats worked to get the bill passed during his second term as governor over the opposition of most Republicans.

Bill Price, the GOP gubernatorial candidate in 1990, not only excluded Bellmon from the campaign but promised to overturn HB 1017 if elected.

Price lost to Democrat David Walters, and a GOP-led initiative petition to repeal the measure lost at the ballot box.

Former Democratic state Sen. Penny Williams of Tulsa, who worked on HB 1017 with Bellmon, said she had spoken to him recently about a 20th-anniversary get-together.

"He wanted to know what we could do in the next 20 years," Williams said. "He always thought long term."

His Senate career: A moderate who feuded with the John Birch Society and other right-wing groups early in his career, Bellmon angered Oklahoma City residents while in the Senate by refusing to back a constitutional ban on forced busing, and he fell out with state party leadership for backing Gerald Ford over Ronald Reagan in 1976.

Bellmon's Senate career, though, is most remembered for his 1978 vote to return the Panama Canal to Panama. Bellmon, who had fought on Saipan and Iwo Jima, said he believed that doing otherwise would lead to a long and bloody jungle war.

"It is difficult to develop a rallying cry around the concept of 'Whip the Panamanians and keep cheap freight,' " he said.

The early years: Bellmon served one term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives after returning from World War II, but his political career did not really begin until 1959, when he was named GOP state chairman. The party was in a shambles at the time, active in only a handful of counties, and had lost the 1958 gubernatorial election by a margin of almost 5-to-1.

Ignoring the few remaining Republican strongholds in Tulsa and northern Oklahoma, Bellmon traveled deep into rural areas with few registered Republicans and even fewer who would admit to the fact.

Although virtually unknown and an unpolished public speaker, Bellmon's persistence and understanding of Main Street and back road Oklahoma galvanized middle-class support for the Republican Party.

During the 1962 gubernatorial campaign, he, his wife, Shirley Bellmon, and their three young daughters drove around the state in a Chevrolet station wagon. While Bellmon spoke to the Chamber of Commerce or Kiwanis Club, his girls knocked on doors and asked people to "please vote for my daddy."

Through the summer, Bellmon stood by while a badly divided Democratic Party tore itself to pieces, and in November he easily defeated W.P. Bill Atkinson, polling 392,000 votes — 70,000 more than any previous GOP gubernatorial candidate and a Republican record that stood until he won his second term 24 years later.

First-term governor: With only a handful of Republicans in the Legislature, Bellmon's first term as governor proceeded cautiously.

Nevertheless, by working with Department of Human Services Director Lloyd Rader, Bellmon made large strides in the care and education of the mentally retarded and in the creation of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He also managed reform of the School Land Commission and earned both praise and condemnation for his "no gifts, no favors" policy.

The Oklahoma Constitution at that time prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms, so Bellmon returned to his farm near Billings in January 1967. His absence from politics, however, was a short one.

In 1968, he challenged three-term U.S. Sen. Mike Monroney and won the Senate seat by 55,000 votes.

Compared to his four years as governor, Bellmon said, the U.S. Senate was "like watching a stump rot."

Unpopular positions: Hurt by his association with Richard Nixon and his unpopular stance on school busing, Bellmon narrowly won re-election in 1974, edging 2nd District U.S. Rep. Ed Edmondson by only 3,000 votes.

Bellmon shrugged off criticism of his votes on the Panama Canal treaties, saying the Panamanians deserved to run their own country.

Bellmon believed that later events proved him correct, but it was an incredibly difficult decision at the time. His mail ran more than 9-to-1 against the treaties.

Two of the state's most powerful businessmen told him in no uncertain terms that they opposed turning the canal over to Panama. But Bellmon explained his decision by quoting Edmond Burke: "Your representative owes you not his industry only but his judgment, and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion."

One of 13 children: Bellmon was born Sept. 3, 1921, at Tonkawa to George and Edith Caskey Bellmon. George Bellmon was a widower with nine children when he married Edith Bellmon, a teacher 11 years his junior. Henry Louis Bellmon was the oldest of their four sons.

He graduated from Billings High School in 1938, a year ahead of his class, and earned an agriculture degree from Oklahoma A&M College — now Oklahoma State University — in seven semesters. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in early 1942.

Discharged in 1946, Bellmon was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives that same year but served only one term.

He married Shirley Osborn in 1947, and together they had three daughters. Shirley Bellmon died in 2001, and the following year Henry Bellmon married an old family friend, Eloise Bollenbach.

Besides his wife, Bellmon is survived by his daughters, Pat Hoerth and Ann McFerron of Billings and Gail Wynne of Enid; and four grandchildren.

World Capitol Bureau reporter Barbara Hoberock contributed to this story.

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment ajohnb, Jenks (9/30/2009 5:13:42 AM) Thank You Governor Bellmon, you have had a long and distinguished career. You set the bar in the political fields.
	Report Comment RoyRogers, Tulsa (9/30/2009 7:03:47 AM) I remember the Summer of 1988, at Discoveryland, we had featured as part of our food menu....Fried Rattlesnake and Buffalo (Rattlesnake shipped-in from Arizona frozen). Anyway, one of the horse-wranglers killed a huge Timber Rattler back, behind the feed barn. We brought it up to the Frymaster...skinned it...and cooked it right there, in front of Governor Bellmon. He enjoyed a plate full (and yes...it really DOES taste like chicken)!
	Report Comment LeeS, Broken Arrow (9/30/2009 7:35:45 AM) We have a lot of politicians but very few statesmen. Henry Bellmon was a statesman.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (9/30/2009 7:35:44 AM) ... A very good man...and a very good politician. Regrettably, were Bellmon to run for office today, the Republican party would not want him. He thought for himself and for the people. He didn't kowtow to the bizarre ideology of todays Republican party. ... .. .
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (9/30/2009 8:14:16 AM) On practically every issue dear to the hearts of old-time "country club" Republicans (low taxes, no regulations on business activities,strong support of the military-industrial complex) Bellmon voted the party line and what used to be called "conservatism". The gnashing of teeth over bussing (racism),abolishing the "Panama Treaty" (jingoism), and failing to be in lock-step with hard liners on wanting to impose the power of the police state in our bedrooms made him the last of a dying breed in swimming upstream against the tide of crazies who took over his Party in the South.
	Report Comment Bud Green, No (9/30/2009 8:31:26 AM) RIP, Henry Bellmon.
	Report Comment UltraVi, (9/30/2009 8:36:41 AM) I am a life-long Democrat but always voted for Henry Bellmon. I never questioned his integrity. He's the very opposite of today's career Republican. Henry Bellmon personified true "family values". Our sympathy to the Bellmon family.
	Report Comment PaulW, Norman (9/30/2009 8:38:01 AM) My grandfather was a state representative (Democrat) who thought the world of Gov. Bellmon during his first term. Liked to tell the story of an important meeting at the Capitol about to start and Gov. Bellmon was nowhere to be found. Someone finally decided to go back to the Governor's Mansion and see if he could find out anything. There was Gov. Bellmon on the shoulder of 23rd St. between the Mansion and the Capitol changing his flat tire! First thing they said to Gov. Bellmon: "Let us hire you a driver!"
	Report Comment Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (9/30/2009 8:49:10 AM) Thanks for the good fight Henry, unlike Ignatz you understood how the federal government ran all of us into poverty.
	Report Comment Angry John, Tulsa (9/30/2009 1:02:14 PM) I'll never forget his grim visage scowling down at me from some PA on the billboard at 15th & the BA during the late eighties.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (9/30/2009 3:27:05 PM) I have done quite a big of reading on Bellmon's political career. This was one great stand up guy in and out of the political arena. Thanks Henry Bellmon for representing us. RIP.
	Report Comment Imjustsaying, (9/30/2009 3:51:35 PM) Seems like he was a Republican in the historical sense...nothing like today's dogmatic, idiological, idiotic Republicans.
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (9/30/2009 7:15:07 PM) AC, sorry, it was Bush/Cheney who ran YOU into poverty, I'm doing just fine.
	Report Comment JR, (9/30/2009 10:17:16 PM) Ring the Bell for Bellmon.....
	Report Comment Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (9/30/2009 10:42:12 PM) Ignatz- Course you're doing fine, you're a lawyer- I relish the day when the feds regulate you guys! But that isn't ever going to happen, they just pick on producers, manufactures, builders, businessmen, and people who create and invent things. Love to see some federal limits on attorney fees, just to make you guys affordable for everyone! They could start out with a subsidy for lawyers who can't compete so well, and shave off a percentage of your legal winnings and distribute it across the board.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (9/30/2009 10:52:05 PM) And retaking the bar exam every 4 years. I just love it.
	Report Comment jonas x3, Tulsa (10/1/2009 1:44:32 AM) A great Oklahoman! The article said "He did not smoke or drink ..." What does that have to do with anything - except good health habits.
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (10/1/2009 8:19:27 AM) AC, sorry that the attorney for your ex nailed you so hard for child support or that you feel you didn't get a fair shake on that meth or abuse conviction!
	Report Comment Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (10/1/2009 9:58:52 AM) Ignatz, don't be silly I have nothing against attorneys, but lets face it not everybody gets the same level of representation. Those who can afford better lawyers get better results... And it's just not fair! (You're all about fairness right?) You should be regulated heavily by the federal government, which I'm sure you won't mind since you love that regulation concept. Why do you think you deserve more money than a public defender or prosecutor who probably work harder than you? I'd say a nice cap at 50K a year would be "more fair", and "competitave" with the regional average for PD's and ADA's.- You're a typical fairweather progressive aren't you?
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (10/1/2009 12:37:50 PM) AC, of course you have something against lawyers! You want to "cap" their earnings without any rational reason to back it up. Limiting access to the Courts in a nation of laws is contrary to our system of justice and only applies in countries which are predominantly 1. socialist 2. fascist 3. anarchic. Which do you prefer? By your previous statements you indicate that there is a select group (Chamber of Commerce types) who shouldn't be held responsible for the harm they cause others. Interesting idea and as long as you could give a flip about the havoc caused by negligent corporate actions (thousands killed in a single stroke by Union Carbide)to other folks and it doesn't happen to you or family members just let them do it. Hard to figure if that is communism or fascism, a little of both I think. Rather than bemoan the low salaries of prosecutors and public defenders, who do, after all CHOOSE to work in the criminal division of the public sector, I'm all for paying them higher salaries. The average sole practitioner makes about $70,000.00 in this part of the country. They should at least get that and probably a little more considering the case load but take into account that they have no overhead per se.I have no idea what you do for a living but let's just be "fair" and cap everyone's salaries. As for me, I'm a free market progressive and believe in open competition for clients with them paying whatever the market demands. I have never, ever forced anyone to hire me.
	Report Comment Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (10/1/2009 4:01:19 PM) What about "fairness", isn't it true that we are a nation of laws and each is guarnteed fair treatment under the law? You are vehement about the regulation of every single industry discussed in these threads, but couldn't bear the thought of being regulated yourself. Imagine, clients assigned to you by way of a lottery system to ensure justice isn't driven by good old boy attorneys with connections(see your first post on this article), and that your hard work is more "affordable" for all, and somewhat less lucrative for the individual (Ignatz).

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