Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bruce Bellard (photo courtesy Sentinel-Tribune)
BGSU Family Mourns the Loss of Bruce Bellard
August 14, 2010 | General
The BGSU community is mourning the loss of Bruce Bellard, who passed away on Friday (Aug. 13) in Bowling Green at the age of 87.
Bellard came to the University in 1941. That year, he was a member of the freshman football team, and also was a member of the school's first wrestling team. He started at guard on the 1942 football team before joining the Navy and serving four years in the South Pacific during World War II.
Bellard returned to BGSU and earned his Bachelor's degree in January of 1948. He became a graduate assistant in HPER, before becoming the head football coach in 1949. Bellard served as an assistant coach for the next 11 seasons, serving in a dual role after taking the position of head wrestling coach in 1952. In 24 years at the helm, his wrestling teams posted a record of 167-118-2 while winning MAC titles in 1959, 1960 and 1966. He was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.
The following information is courtesy the Sentinel-Tribune.
Bruce Harding Bellard, 87, of Bowling Green, passed away on August 13, 2010, in Bowling Green.
He was born in Bellevue, Ohio to the late Leota and Ernest Bellard, the third of three sons. His brothers Jean and Ernest, Jr. also predeceased him. He was married to Mary Ann Schnee Bellard, who survives, for 62 years.
Bruce graduated from Bellevue High School, and attended Bowling Green State University on a football scholarship. His freshman year at BGSU was interrupted by Pearl Harbor, and he joined the Navy at age 18. He was an aircraft mechanic, and served in the Seabees on Guam. He and good friend Wes Hoffman, who shared his love of flying, participated in the Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. in May 2009. He was also inducted into the Bellevue High School Halls of Excellence.
He resumed his studies at BGSU after the war, and received his B.S. in education in 1947 and his masters in 1952. He became a football coach in 1948, and that same year married Mary Ann, his childhood sweetheart, and they stayed in Bowling Green ever since.
He was on the BGSU faculty from 1948 through 1981, as a teacher and a coach, and taught summer sessions for another five years after retiring. He developed the university's course of study for the Physical Education Department, and over his career taught every course in that department. He established a statewide curriculum for Driver Education and is credited with training more driver education teachers (some 4800) than any other person in Ohio. In 1998 he received the Alum of the Year award from the BGSU College of Education and Human Development.
He coached in five different sports at BGSU, but his heart belonged to wrestling. As the head wrestling coach from 1952-1977, he had 20 non-losing seasons and his teams won three Mid-American Conference Championships.
Bruce was honored to serve 12 years as a Bowling Green City Council member, and as council president from 1973-1982. He served as Mayor of Bowling Green from 1983-1988. In 1994 Bruce served as President of the Wood County Committee on Aging Governing Board, and in 1981 he was recognized as the City's outstanding male citizen. He also served on numerous other Boards, Committees and Commissions.
Bruce was a proud Kiwanian and was the longest serving member (57 years) of the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club. He and Mary Ann have been members of Trinity United Methodist Church since 1952.
In addition to his wife Mary Ann, he is survived by sisters-in-law Faith Bellard and Pat Bellard; nieces Chris Bellard, Sharon Bellard (Steve Bunkhall), Nancy Bellard, Jan Bellard (Steve Planson), Cindy Tattan (Tom) and Lisa Holmes; nephews Scott Bellard, Kim Bellard (Diane), and James Bellard (Leslie); great-nieces Lauren Bellard and Callie Holmes; great-nephews David Bellard, Cory Holmes and Jason Tattan; "adoptive" grandchildren Lydia and Joseph Brunner; numerous Moyer and Bellard cousins; countless friends and neighbors, and so many former students who considered him a mentor.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, August 18th at Trinity United Methodist Church at 10:30am. Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 17th at Dunn Funeral Home from 3 to 6 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Unity Methodist Church.
Condolences, memories and pictures may be shared with the family by visiting www.dunnfuneralhome.com
Bellard came to the University in 1941. That year, he was a member of the freshman football team, and also was a member of the school's first wrestling team. He started at guard on the 1942 football team before joining the Navy and serving four years in the South Pacific during World War II.
Bellard returned to BGSU and earned his Bachelor's degree in January of 1948. He became a graduate assistant in HPER, before becoming the head football coach in 1949. Bellard served as an assistant coach for the next 11 seasons, serving in a dual role after taking the position of head wrestling coach in 1952. In 24 years at the helm, his wrestling teams posted a record of 167-118-2 while winning MAC titles in 1959, 1960 and 1966. He was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.
The following information is courtesy the Sentinel-Tribune.
Bruce Harding Bellard, 87, of Bowling Green, passed away on August 13, 2010, in Bowling Green.
He was born in Bellevue, Ohio to the late Leota and Ernest Bellard, the third of three sons. His brothers Jean and Ernest, Jr. also predeceased him. He was married to Mary Ann Schnee Bellard, who survives, for 62 years.
Bruce graduated from Bellevue High School, and attended Bowling Green State University on a football scholarship. His freshman year at BGSU was interrupted by Pearl Harbor, and he joined the Navy at age 18. He was an aircraft mechanic, and served in the Seabees on Guam. He and good friend Wes Hoffman, who shared his love of flying, participated in the Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. in May 2009. He was also inducted into the Bellevue High School Halls of Excellence.
He resumed his studies at BGSU after the war, and received his B.S. in education in 1947 and his masters in 1952. He became a football coach in 1948, and that same year married Mary Ann, his childhood sweetheart, and they stayed in Bowling Green ever since.
He was on the BGSU faculty from 1948 through 1981, as a teacher and a coach, and taught summer sessions for another five years after retiring. He developed the university's course of study for the Physical Education Department, and over his career taught every course in that department. He established a statewide curriculum for Driver Education and is credited with training more driver education teachers (some 4800) than any other person in Ohio. In 1998 he received the Alum of the Year award from the BGSU College of Education and Human Development.
He coached in five different sports at BGSU, but his heart belonged to wrestling. As the head wrestling coach from 1952-1977, he had 20 non-losing seasons and his teams won three Mid-American Conference Championships.
Bruce was honored to serve 12 years as a Bowling Green City Council member, and as council president from 1973-1982. He served as Mayor of Bowling Green from 1983-1988. In 1994 Bruce served as President of the Wood County Committee on Aging Governing Board, and in 1981 he was recognized as the City's outstanding male citizen. He also served on numerous other Boards, Committees and Commissions.
Bruce was a proud Kiwanian and was the longest serving member (57 years) of the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club. He and Mary Ann have been members of Trinity United Methodist Church since 1952.
In addition to his wife Mary Ann, he is survived by sisters-in-law Faith Bellard and Pat Bellard; nieces Chris Bellard, Sharon Bellard (Steve Bunkhall), Nancy Bellard, Jan Bellard (Steve Planson), Cindy Tattan (Tom) and Lisa Holmes; nephews Scott Bellard, Kim Bellard (Diane), and James Bellard (Leslie); great-nieces Lauren Bellard and Callie Holmes; great-nephews David Bellard, Cory Holmes and Jason Tattan; "adoptive" grandchildren Lydia and Joseph Brunner; numerous Moyer and Bellard cousins; countless friends and neighbors, and so many former students who considered him a mentor.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, August 18th at Trinity United Methodist Church at 10:30am. Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 17th at Dunn Funeral Home from 3 to 6 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Unity Methodist Church.
Condolences, memories and pictures may be shared with the family by visiting www.dunnfuneralhome.com
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