Kennis (Ken) Bellmard joined the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors in 2020.

Bellmard was a three-time Oklahoma state wrestling place winner, including an undefeated season and state championship as a senior in 1976. He was selected to the Oklahoma All-State wrestling team and was a United States Wrestling Federation Junior National All-American. Bellmard competed in Bulgaria in 1975 and in Japan in 1976 as a member of the Oklahoma AAU wrestling team.

He was an NCAA Division II national runner-up for Augustana College in 1977, a member of the Northern Oklahoma College wrestling team in 1978 and a letterman for Oklahoma State in 1980. Prior to entering law school, Bellmard was a junior high wrestling coach in Ponca City, leading his team to the state championship, and a high school coach in Newkirk, Oklahoma, where his team finished second in state.

Bellmard received his associate’s degree from Northern Oklahoma College, a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

A member of the Kaw Nation Indian Tribe, he has been a practitioner of Native America law since 1990. Bellmard has served as chair of the Indian Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association and has been named as one of the “Best Law Firms for Native American Law in Oklahoma” by US News and World Report. He has been on the forefront of Oklahoma Indian Gaming Development and Renewable Energy Development on Indian land. Bellmard is a senior advisor with Dentons Law Firm and is associated with the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

Active in Kaw Nation cultural activities, he has been a member of the Kaw Nation’s Cultural Committee and was drumkeeper for the Kaw I-Lon-Shka ceremonial dances.

A board member of USA Judo, Bellmard attended the Olympics in 2008 and 2012 as a member of the USA Judo delegation.