MARIETTA, Ga. — Belvin “Ben” Benfield passed away on July 5, 2018 after a short illness. He grew up in the hills of East Tennessee and was the ninth of ten children. He was a cum laude graduate of East Tennessee State University and received his Master of Science in Radio-Television from Syracuse University. After successful careers in Broadcasting and the Construction Industry, he became a Certified Meeting and Hospitality professional (CMP) and he and his wife owned The Benfield Group, a corporate and independent meeting consulting firm.
Ben’s broadcasting awards include the Associated Press Award for News Reporting – “Fulton Federal Fire,” and for Human Interest Television Feature – “Old Man and His Mountain,” WSB Television; East Tennessee State University Honor Award, producer and host for “Art and Music” Television Series, WJHL Television; writer-producer on award winning ABC-TV series, “File Seven,” owned and presented by Johns Hopkins University. He was instructor-Management Practices, Radio-Television Department, Ithaca College where he developed and implemented a student staffed one hour nightly television newscast, which won both Associated Press and United Press awards.
He was White House Liaison to Johns Hopkins University for coordination of news coverage, security procedures and facilities utilization during the bilateral proclamation of a major foreign policy position by President Eisenhower and British Prime Minister MacMillan – Baltimore 1958.
Ben served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was liaison officer from the United States Armed Forces Radio Services to the Japanese Government’s National Broadcasting Service (NHK) for the movement of AFRS facilities to US Military Bases – Japan 1953.
He was National Chief for the Y-Indian Guide Programs during the early seventies; co-authored “Y-TRAILBLAZERS” program manual for National YMCA parent-child club program; co-planned, organized and led 1,000 person Train Excursion and Encampment to Fort Benning, Ga.
His community involvement included membership in: Meeting Professionals International, Atlanta Kiwanis Club, Atlanta Executives Association (past president), United Way Speakers Bureau, Chi Psi Fraternity, Northside United Methodist Church, Northside YMCA Board, Jaycees and Toastmasters Club.
He was predeceased by his father, Floyd Preston Benfield, and mother, Elda Laura Ollis Benfield, and by four brothers and five sisters.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jan, of 30 years; two sons, Berlin (Vera) Benfield and George (Ann) Benfield; four grandchildren, Rebecca and Allison Benfield of Grapevine, Texas, Emery and Baker Benfield of Knoxville, Tenn.; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30309.
A service celebrating Ben’s life with his friends and family will be held Wednesday, July 11, at 2 p.m. at Northside United Methodist Church, 2799 Northside Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA 30305.