Joe Belden, 90; Polling Expert Founded Model for Statewide Surveys
Joe Belden, 90, founder of the Texas Poll, considered the first statewide opinion survey and a model for others, died Thursday at his home in Washington, D.C., of Parkinson’s disease.
He was born Jose Belden in Eagle Pass, Texas, and studied the scientific sampling of public opinion at the University of Texas. He corresponded with George Gallup and other pioneers in survey research before founding the Texas Poll in 1940 to assess statewide public opinion on politics, elections and social issues of the day.
Belden sold his poll results to newspapers and founded Belden Associates to conduct other market research for newspapers. That work helped newspapers learn what readers who were surveyed wanted and led to such additions as news summaries, better graphics and more weekend sections.
After serving as a Navy officer in Washington and Panama during World War II, Belden established a company in Mexico to turn opinion surveys into a radio and television rating system.
Belden sold his interest in Belden Associates and retired in 1980. He received the lifetime achievement award of the American Assn. for Public Opinion Research in 1991.
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