On January 27, 2015, Governor of Wyoming, Matt Mead, read and signed a Governor’s Proclamation which proclaimed January 27, 2015 as Lieutenant General Benjamin N. Bellis Day in Wyoming in recognition of General Bellis’ game changing contributions to aviation and national defense. The ceremony was held in the Governor’s conference room at the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Among those in attendance were a number of Wyoming officials, United States Air Force leaders from Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, the Mayor of Wheatland, Wyoming (the General’s home town), the Kiwanis Rocky Mountain District Governor, Stephen Plank, and members of General Bellis’ Monument Hill Kiwanis Club located in Monument, Colorado. His Kiwanis club annually provides approximately 20,000 service hours and grants over $100,000 for many worthy community needs.
General Bellis graduated from West Point in 1946 with a Military Engineering degree. He began his career with the Strategic Air Command and served in the Special Weapons Project related to atomic weapons. He later was the project officer for the Matador and MACE missiles and served on the Thor and Atlas ballistic missile programs. His greatest achievement for the nation was as the System Program Director for the successful development of the SR-71 “Blackbird” strategic reconnaissance aircraft and F-15 “Eagle” fighter aircraft.
Among General Bellis’ many military decorations is the prestigious Defense Distinguished Service Medal. He is also a Command Pilot, was awarded the Master Missleman Badge, and holds Masters Degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Business Administration. General Bellis retired in August 1981 from the United States Air Force as Vice Commander in Chief of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
Following retirement he was President of the Falcon Foundation for eighteen years – this organization provides one hundred prep school scholarships annually to young men and women interested in Air Force careers and ultimately competing for entry into the Air Force Academy.