Members of both Republican and Democratic parties mourned the loss of former Oklahoma Republican Gov. Henry Bellmon, who passed away Tuesday at 88 years old after a long battle against Parkinson’s disease.

“Henry Bellmon will be remembered as one of the greatest Oklahomans in our state’s history,” OU President David Boren stated in an e-mail. “In an age of politicians, he always stood out as a statesman with the moral courage to do what he thought was right. Ever since I entered public life 40 years ago, he has been my friend, adviser and a constant source of encouragement to me. His death leaves a gap in the lives of all of us.”

Bellmon became Oklahoma’s first GOP governor since statehood. Bellmon was the father of the state’s modern Republican party, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Moore) stated in an e-mail.

“He served his nation as a soldier in a time of world war. He led Oklahoma Republicans out of the wilderness in the 1960s. And, as governor and U.S. senator, he served our state and nation as a statesman,” House Speaker Chris Benge (R-Tulsa) also stated in an e-mail. “He leaves a legacy that all can celebrate and a model of service for other public officials to follow.”

Gov. Brad Henry ordered that all flags on state property be flown at half-staff Tuesday in Bellmon’s honor.

“Oklahoma mourns the passing of a legend,” Gov. Henry said. “Henry Bellmon was not only a proud Oklahoman, but in many ways embodied Oklahoma — tough-minded, hard-working, honest, patriotic and a true son of the land. He was a man who preferred deeds to words. Most important, Henry Bellmon was a superb leader and public servant who always sought to better this state he so dearly loved.”

As governor in 1990, Bellmon saw the passage of the Education Reform and Funding Act (House Bill 1017), which called for a 27 percent increase in funding for public schools.

“His legacy will perhaps be greatest felt in education, where he fought valiantly to ensure every child in Oklahoma received a solid education and a world of opportunity,” Todd Goodman, chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, stated in an e-mail.

In 1982, Bellmon spoke out about his own party’s supply-side economics policies, telling the U.S. Senate Budget Committee that they were hurting farmers with their policies.

“During a time when a drought severely struck Oklahoma’s wheat harvest, I walked the wheat fields of northwest Oklahoma with Governors Bellmon and Keating as Bellmon showed us the drastic impact the drought had on Oklahoma’s farms,” Todd Lamb (R-Edmond), Oklahoma state senator and family friend of the Bellmon’s, stated in an e-mail.

Cole said Bellmon led on every issue with courage, commitment and integrity, Cole said.

“Like tens of thousands of other Oklahomans, I honor and appreciate his life, mourn his loss and offer my heartfelt sympathy to his family. Henry Bellmon was an Oklahoma political pioneer — we won’t see his like again,” Cole said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

TIMELINE:

1921: Born Sept. 3 in Tonkawa, Okla.

1938: Graduated Billings High School

1942: Received Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture

1942-1946: Served with U.S. Marine Corps, receiving Silver Star for action on Saipan and Legion or Merit for action on Iwo Jima

1963: Oklahoma’s first GOP governor since statehood

1967: National chairman of the Nixon for President campaign

1968: Elected to U.S. Senate

1974: Re-elected to U.S. Senate

1982: Spoke out on his own party’s supply-side economics policies telling the U.S. Senate Budget committee that they were hurting farmers

1984: Taught a political science class at OU

1985: Selected as receiver of the financially troubled National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City

1987: Served as governor of Oklahoma

1990: Saw the passage of Education Reform and Funding Act (House Bill 1017)

1991: Left office after his second term in office on Jan. 14

1997: In November, Republican politicians from all over the state honored Bellmon’s contributions

Also in this year, Bellmon and his wife, Shirley, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary

2000: Bellmon’s wife Shirley passed away while vacationing in Massachusetts

2009: Henry Bellmon passed away Sept. 28, at the age of 88 after battling Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his second wife, Eloise, three daughters and four grandchildren

The Associated Press contributed to this report.