2013 Hall of Fame Inductee
Chemical Engineer and Business Executive.
Graduating in 1943, the Topeka High ‘Honor T’ recipient would soon enter World War II. He became a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Air Force serving as a navigator on B-29s. After the war, he completed his education in chemical engineering, earning his Bachelor and Master’s degrees from MIT. He then joined Standard Oil, which is now Exxon. He quickly rose up in the ranks with executive positions in various foreign posts: Japan, Australia, and Europe. From 1979 to 1982 Mr. Belknap was Senior Vice President, Exxon International. Equally impressive are his credentials with New York and American cultural icons: President of the Paul Taylor Dance Co. (1983-2009), and Managing Director of Carnegie Hall (1983-1988) during its $50 million restoration.