Upper Iowa University Athletics

Earl Bellis, a graduate of Upper Iowa University in 1939, won nine varsity letters as a student-athlete at UIU. He was a three-year letter winner in baseball and a member of the 1938 conference championship team. He also lettered three years in both football and basketball, and participated one year in track. Off the playing field, he served as president of Rho Sigma Chi, he was a member of the student council, and he participated in band, mixed chorus and the drama club at UIU.

Following graduation, Bellis taught biology and social sciences at Fairbank High School. He also coached girls and boys basketball, as well as baseball. He served in the U.S. Air Force before returning to the U.S. to marry Mary Nieman in 1943.

The couple worked in the Washington, D.C. area for four years as Bellis taught and coached girls and boys basketball, baseball and boys soccer. During that time, he obtained his master’s degree in education at the University of Maryland.

Bellis has been recognized and honored on numerous occasions for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the Fairbank community. Some of his honors include: State of Iowa Community Better Program; the Governor’s Leadership Award; Certificate of Commendation from the American Legion; and Outstanding Leadership in the Community.

In 1990, after serving 30 years as president of Fairbank State Bank, Bellis became chairman of the board.