[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 17 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E124-E125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF JAMES BELL ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 2, 2012

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize one of 
my constituents from Chicago, James Bell, as he retires from The Boeing 
Company after 40 years of service to Boeing and its heritage companies. 
James is retiring as corporate president and chief financial officer of 
Chicago-based Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company and 
America's biggest manufacturing exporter. He is the highest-ranking 
African-American employee in the company's nearly 100 years of history. 
His legacy at Boeing transcends race and reflects a record of 
accomplishment, service, and leadership that came during a time of 
significant change. During Bell's career, Boeing expanded from being 
primarily a commercial airplane manufacturer to a company with a 
diverse portfolio of commercial, military, and civil products and 
businesses. Boeing's workforce, which includes over 170,000 employees, 
also has become more diverse, and James helped to make it so. James 
played a critical role in shaping this diverse workforce, sharing his 
life experiences, modeling outstanding leadership and mentoring others 
to become the leaders of tomorrow.
  James Bell grew up in south central Los Angeles, the youngest of four 
children of Clyde

[[Page E125]]

Bell, a postman, and Mamie, a county government clerk. During Bell's 
junior year at Jefferson High School in 1965, the Watts neighborhood 
erupted in rioting. Though sympathetic to the frustration and despair 
that sparked the rioting, James reacted to the sad destruction by 
committing himself to self improvement. He realized that education was 
the path to future success. In his senior year at Jefferson, Bell was 
elected student body president in part due to his interest in helping 
the school retain students and convincing them of the value of 
education. James studied hard and earned a partial scholarship to 
California State University at Los Angeles, where he majored in 
accounting.
  James has come a long way since his childhood, but he has stayed 
close to his roots and to his extended, close-knit family. In his first 
management job, he learned that he would be supervising several women, 
all of whom were older than him, so he reached out to his mother for 
advice. ``Always respect them as you would me, and you'll be all 
right,'' she counseled him. Following that advice served him well. Bell 
began his career as a staff accountant with Rockwell in 1972, after 
earning his bachelor's degree in accounting. He rose steadily, serving 
in positions of increasing responsibility including manager of 
accounting and, later, director of business management of the Space 
Station Electric Power System before becoming vice president in 1996, 
when Boeing acquired Rockwell's aerospace business. As vice president 
of contracts and pricing for Boeing Space and Communications, Bell 
oversaw policy direction, acquisition reform, new business 
opportunities and program performance, and he also served in business 
management roles for the International Space Station program.
  James was named chief financial officer of Boeing in 2003, a position 
he held until his retirement. In addition to his CFO duties, he served 
as chief executive officer of the company for several months in 2005 
following the resignation of Boeing's top leader. As the chief 
financial officer, James was responsible for overall financial 
management of the company, including oversight of business performance, 
financial reporting and transparency, and multiple corporate functions 
including for example Controller, Treasury, Investor Relations, 
Planning and Contracts and Pricing. Under James' watchful eye and 
steady hand, Boeing's annual revenues have grown to nearly $70 billion. 
While his leadership will be missed, James will remain active in 
Chicago, serving on the board of directors of J. P. Morgan, Dow 
Chemical Company, and The Chicago Urban League.
  I am honored to celebrate the achievements of Mr. Bell and am hopeful 
for a prosperous and active retirement.

                          ____________________