Bell

Sam Houston Bell passed away Wednesday, Dec. 15 in Tyler.

Sam was born Oct. 31, 1923 to Sam H. Bell, Sr. and Emma Mae Ybarbo Bell of Elysian Fields, Texas.

Mr. Bell was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters; David Crockett Bell, Ben Franklin Bell, Ned Bell, Josephine Bell Hill, Leta Mae Bell, Mary Margaret Bell and Jennie Lou Sproules; and by his son, Sam Bell, Jr.

He has two surviving brothers, Hollie E. Bell of Katy and Philip Henry Bell of Scotland.

Sam graduated from Elysian Fields High School in 1942.  He attended Kilgore College on an athletic scholarship and participated in football and basketball. His Kilgore basketball team won the Texas Jr. College State Championship in 1943.

In July of 1943 Mr. Bell volunteered for service in the U.S. Marines. He served in the South Pacific Theatre until the war ended in 1946.

Upon discharge, he enrolled at North Texas University at Denton on an athletic scholarship. During his senior year at North Texas, he was elected captain of the  basketball team. He was the team’s high scorer during his senior year.

Upon graduation from North Texas, he was hired as a teacher and coach at Bellville High School. From Bellville he was hired as teacher and coach at Overton High School. From Overton he was hired as teacher and coach at Big Spring High School. From Big Spring he was hired as teacher and coach at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler.

During his career as basketball coach at Robert E. Lee High School his team won two district championships and tied for a third. His team also won one Bi-district championship. Upon his retirement from coaching in 1969 he was appointed Assistant Principal of Robert E. Lee High School, and  in 1973 he was selected Principal of Hubbard Middle School, where he served until retirement in 1990. During his tenure at Hubbard he was elected to the Board of Directors and served as President of the Texas Association of Secondary Principals from 1985-1990.  

Sam is survived by his wife, Billie Sue Rector Bell; one son, Stephen Scott Bell; a granddaughter and her husband, Caroline Bell Atkins and Lyle Atkins; and a grandson, Sean Burton Bell.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 in Tyler  with Dr. Paul Powell officiating.   Burial was at Pinecrest Cemetery in Troup.