OKPOLICY.ORG
Oklahoma Policy Institute will honor Governor Henry Bellmon with the 2014 Good Sense/Good Cents Award, followed by a panel discussion on the Bellmon legacy, on Monday August 4th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Lorton Performance Center on the University of Tulsa Campus. The events are free and open to the public.
The Good Sense/Good Cents award will be presented to Gov. Bellmon’s daughters Ann Denney and Pat Hoerth by Tulsa Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., whose father, Dewey F. Bartlett Sr., succeeded Henry Bellmon as Governor and served concurrently with him in the United States Senate. The annual award honors political leaders whose political service is distinguished by a commitment to respectful political dialogue, sound fiscal stewardship, and concern for the less fortunate. The inaugural recipients of the award in 2013 were Mayors Robert LaFortune of Tulsa and Melvin Moran of Seminole.
The panel discussion, titled “Statesmanship: The Legacy of Henry Bellmon,” will involve top advisors and political leaders from the Bellmon era who will discuss his impact on state and national politics and policy and how his example can provide guidance for today’s political leaders. Andrew Tevington, Sandy Garrett, Robert Fulton, Lee Paden, and Penny Williams will be the panelists, and Wayne Greene will serve as moderator.
A lifelong resident of Billings, Bellmon was a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in World War II and was awarded a Legion of Merit and Silver Star for his service. After one term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and two years as Republican State Chairman, Bellmon was elected as Oklahoma’s first Republican Governor in 1962. He served as Governor from 1963-1967 before winning election to two terms as a United States Senator from 1969-1981. He served a second term as Governor from 1987-1991, where his accomplishments included overseeing passage of the landmark education reform legislation HB 1017. He died in 2009 at the age of 88.
The award and panel discussion will take place as part of OK Policy’s annual Summer Policy Institute, a 4-day program that brings together 50 top students from across Oklahoma for an intensive immersion in state policy issues.
Refreshments will be served following the panel discussion.
For more information, contact Oklahoma Policy Institute at (918) 794-3944 or info@okpolicy.org
