Bently named distinguished Nevadan

LAS VEGAS -- Minden industrialist Don Bently has been named a distinguished Nevadan by the University and Community College Board of Regents.

Bently donated the 10-acre site for Western Nevada Community College's Douglas campus.

The first building constructed on the campus, Bently Hall, is named after Bently.

He sold his company, Bently Nevada, to General Electric in January. Bently founded the company in 1961 with a workforce of three people.

When it sold, Bently employed more than 2,000 people worldwide, including 1,200 in the Carson Valley.

The company sponsored college scholarships for engineering students.

Bently served in the Pacific during World War II and worked on a farm before becoming a successful inventor.

Regents named Bently, Dr. Jesse Hall of Reno, James Edward and Alice Ray Smalley of Las Vegas, Dr. William Pearson of Las Vegas, J. Terrence Lanni of Las Vegas and former regent Tom Wiesner.

Each year, the Board of Regents select five Nevadans for the honor of being named a Distinguished Nevadan. The award is bestowed upon prominent individuals who have made significant achievements that have contributed to the cultural, scientific or social advancement of Nevada. The recipients will be honored during commencement ceremonies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno.

At Reno, commencement is May 18.

The Nevada Board of Regents is the elected, 11-member governing body for the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Comprising two doctoral granting universities, a state college, four comprehensive community colleges and one internationally acclaimed research institute, the system serves the educational and job training needs of the nation's fastest growing state. As Nevada's only system of higher education, it provides educational opportunities to nearly 100,000 students.