[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO HENRY BELL, AN OUTSTANDING AMERICAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 9, 1999

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a truly 
outstanding American, Henry M. Bell, Jr., of Tyler, Texas, whose death 
on August 24, 1999, leaves behind a remarkable legacy of 
accomplishment--and leaves us with memories of a truly great man who 
was devoted to his family and community, who spent his life in service 
to others, and who was beloved by all who knew him. Mr. Speaker, Henry 
Bell was an exemplary man and a good friend of mine, and it is an honor 
for me to pay tribute to him in the Congressional Record for all to 
read.
  Henry Bell was one of Tyler's city fathers. As the Tyler Morning 
Telegraph stated, ``Mr. Bell exemplified the spirit of community 
service, lending his time and talents to his church and numerous civic 
and professional organizations.'' Tyler's flourishing medical 
community, institutions of higher education, and economic 
infrastructure owe much of their foundation and success to the vision 
and efforts of Henry Bell.
  Mr. Bell's civic involvement reflects his devotion to his community. 
He was instrumental in the growth and development of the East Texas 
Medical Center, where at the time of his death he served as chairman of 
the board for the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System 
and the ETMC Foundation. He also was a member of Texas Healthcare 
Trustees. In addition, he was just as committed to the development of 
higher education opportunities in Tyler. He was an ardent proponent for 
the University of Texas at Tyler, where he served on its Development 
Board.
  Mr. Bell's involvement also helped create thousands of jobs for East 
Texans at area factories that he helped bring to Tyler. He was a key 
player in the former Tyler Industrial Foundation, through which he 
helped bring to Tyler the General Electric air-conditioning factory, 
now operated by the Trane Company; the Bryant Heater Company, now 
Carrier Corporation; and the Kelly-Springfield tire factory. For his 
efforts, in 1971 he received the T.B. Butler Award, which recognizes 
the most outstanding citizen of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.
  In every facet of Tyler's civic and professional life, Henry Bell's 
impact can be felt. Beginning in 1948, he devoted his career to 
Citizens First National Bank of Tyler (now Regions Bank), where he 
served in several executive roles, including president and chairman of 
the board. He retired as senior chairman in 1993.
  He served as president or board chairman for the Chamber of Commerce, 
Texas Rose Festival Association, United Way of Greater Tyler, American 
Red Cross, Smith County Heart Association, Better Business Bureau, 
Tyler Petroleum Club and Willow Brook Country Club. He served as a 
board member for the University of Texas Health Center, Salvation Army, 
Junior Achievement, Texas Chest Foundation and Texas College, which 
awarded him an honorary degree. He also served as past chairman and 
board member of the Teachers Retirement System of Texas.
  He was a senior warden at Christ Episcopal Church and past board 
member of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and the Bishop Quin 
Foundation. He was a member of the Henry Bell Lodge No. 1371, AF&AM, 
and member of the Sharon Temple and Scottish Rite Bodies.
  The awards and accolades that Henry Bell received are numerous, but 
as his friends will testify, he accepted them with a spirit of humility 
that was his trademark. As one longtime friend noted, ``From his early 
adult years he approached every subject on the basis of what good could 
come out of it for Tyler.'' Another friend and civic leader called him 
``the quintessential Southern gentleman'' and part of a generation that 
had a tremendous influence on the growth and development of the city.
  A descendent of one of Tyler's founding families, he was born January 
23, 1928, in Tyler to Henry M. Bell Sr. and Elizabeth Loftin Bell. He 
received a B.S. degree in industrial administration, having attended 
The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., and Yale University in New Haven, 
Conn.
  Preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Nell, who died in 
February, 1999, Mr. Bell is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, 
Henry M. Bell III and Allen and Cindy Bell; mother, Elizabeth; 
granddaughters, Lendy, Audrey and D'Ann Bell; great-grandson, Christian 
Bell; sister, Dorothy Finn; and several nieces and nephews.
  Henry Bell was a great man, an outstanding citizen, and one whose 
influence will be felt for generations to come. He was more than that 
to me--he was a close and wonderful friend--one that cannot be 
replaced--but can be long remembered. So as we adjourn today, Mr. 
Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying our last respects to 
one of Tyler's great leaders and my good friend, Henry Bell, Jr., who 
will be missed by all those who knew him.

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