Austin American Statesman

10/03/2001  Carlton Ray Bell 


Carlton Ray Bell was born in Luling, Texas, on August 26, 1935.
 He passed away at his home in Austin on Sunday, September 30, 2001, 
surrounded by his loving mate, Alice Bell and close extended family members. 
Carlton lived in Luling through half of his junior year in high school until his father took 
a job as a representative for an oil field equipment supplier in Kermit, Texas. 
During his life, he lived in various West Texas cities including Andrews, Snyder, Midland-Odessa 
and Abilene before residing in Austin. Carlton attended the University of Texas at Austin and 
played clarinet while a member of the Longhorn Band. In 1959, he was drafted into the Army
 and served on the General's staff at Army Post Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. 
When he returned home from the Army, Carlton went to work for the Comptroller of 
Public Accounts as a Revenue Examiner in the Odessa field office. He was promoted to
 Comptroller District Manager in Abilene in 1968 and later transferred to Austin to serve as
 one of Bob Bullock's aides in 1975. While with the Comptroller's Office in Austin, Carlton served 
as Director of Tax Enforcement of Field Operations, Director of Field Operations and Director
of Revenue Processing. For the past 18 years, he worked at the Texas General Land Office. 
While there, Carlton served as Deputy Commissioner of Land Management, Deputy Commissioner
 of Field Operations and Deputy Commissioner of the Veterans Land Board. 
Carlton was also instrumental in the creation and implementation of the state's alternative 
fuels legislation as well as being a major contributor to what became the world's premiere 
Alternative Fuels Conference. He is preceded in death by his parents; Ruby and Canton 
Gus Bell. Canton is survived by Alice Bell; nephew, Jeremy Loughridge, of Waco; and sister, 
Carol Snodgrass, of Midland. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 2, 2001, between 
10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, where services 
will be held on Wednesday, October 3, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. with Minister Tim Cook officiating. 
Interment to follow at Cook- Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.  Austin American Statesman