Word: bellmon
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Greybeards. Many Oklahomans think that if the elections were held now, the new Governor would be Henry Bellmon, 41, a big (230 HDS., 6 ft. 2 in.) ex-marine lieutenant who neither smokes nor drinks, but just raises cattle, wheat and Republican hopes. He was elected to the legislature in 1946, and in 1960 became state party chairman. The choice was a shock to old-line Republicans who had got comfy sitting on their hands. "Of the 300 state committee people," says Bellmon, "I replaced 208 with new, younger people. Overnight, the average age of the party...
With his young recruits, Bellmon successfully brought out the big Nixon vote in 1960, then set to work preparing for 1962. Like a military commander, he issued attack programs that scheduled a calendar of activities, organized "commando'' groups of workers assigned to fund raising, advertising and "reregistering" Democrats. The Republicans contracted early for most of the state's best billboard space, leaving the Democrats pretty much behind the bushes. All that remained was to select their Republican candidates-and Organizer Bellmon was the obvious choice for Governor...
Heading toward November, Bellmon faces a badly split Democratic Party. Democratic candidate for Governor is W.P. (Bill) Atkinson, who had the backing of Senator Robert Kerr. With Kerr's organization behind him, Atkinson won a bitter primary victory over former Governor Raymond Gary. But Gary himself still has a considerable organization-many of whose members are now working for Bellmon...