WWII Veteran Gene Bellar, Star of 2024 WSOP Salute to Warriors, Passes Away at 101
Two years ago, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) invited 99-year-old Gene Bellar, a veteran of three wars, to the WSOP for the very first time and to play the Salute to Warriors event on their dime. The special moment was complete with a color guard from the USO to do the National Anthem before Bellar, dressed in uniform, gave the traditional, “Shuffle up and deal.”
Sadly, PokerNews has learned that Bellar recently passed away at the age of 101, though he reportedly played poker until a few months ago when his health began to decline.
Bellar’s appearance at the WSOP was due to the efforts of Jesse Fullen, who learned of his story and worked with officials to get him out to Las Vegas.
“It was a beautiful experience, we had a lot of fun,” Bellar said of going to the WSOP alongside his daughter, Sandy Bellar. “They treated us like royalty.”
Bellar didn’t cash the $500 buy-in event, but did play for roughly 10 hours on Day 1 before busting.
Born Dec. 22, 1924, Bellar grew up on a farm in Tennessee with six siblings and no electricity during the Great Depression. At 17, Bellard joined the Navy during World War II, and his 25-year service extended to both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
According to a Parade article by Jessica Sager, “He got married in 1964, and in 1967, retired from the military as a chief petty officer. From there, Bellar began working as a cost estimator in a shipyard for about 15 years. He and his wife were married for 55 years.”
Unfortunately, Bellar’s wife passed away around 2019, which is when he started to play poker more regularly.
“When you get a good pot going, everyone immediately gets excited, you’re anticipating what’s going to come out,” Bellar told Parade. “Sometimes it doesn’t happen! It’s exciting, and I like winning.”
Aside from playing, Bellar was gifted a jacket from the WSOP, one that he proceeded to wear nearly every day to Seven Mile Casino in Chula Vista, California. Speaking of, his friend and fellow poker player Mark Feinberg shared a fun story about Bellar.
“He was a character. The card room gives a dollar an hour in food credit. He must’ve had thousands accumulated because he almost never took advantage of the free food. He would play for 2.5 or three hours and then make the short drive home to cook his preferred breakfast of sausage and biscuits, and then return for another hour or so. One time, I asked him if his sausage and biscuits could be so good that it was worth leaving and forgoing the free food. He said it was, and when he returned about an hour later, he brought me sausage and biscuits that he had made at home. It was very good!”
Bellar is survived by his son, Gene Clark Bellar, and daughter, Sandy Bellar; two stepchildren, Paula Souza and Paul St. Amand; three grandkids: Brittni, Tonya, and Carol Pippin; three step-grandchildren: Jason, Chad, and Cody; and eight great-grandchildren.
For more on Gene Bellar's incredible life, check out this thorough piece by The Cheatham County Exchange.
