FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
WISD teacher makes history (and teaches it)
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Col. David Bell

Colonel David Bell, United States Air Force (retired) is at the head of the class with the seniors taking American History, AP Government and dual level Government at Whitehouse High School. Bell not only teaches these subjects, but he played a role in them as well. What better background for an educator to bring to the classroom than pure experience.

Bell's father's calling would give him a world of adventure and life experience. His father was a missionary in Brazil. Bell received his early education in Brazilian classrooms. Needless to say, this gave him an enormous advantage in the language department. He is fluent in Portuguese. When he reached his high school years he did attend an American school in Brazil.

Visits to his grandmother's home in East Texas would lead Bell to meet the love of his life, Ina. Of course as a child playing in the yard he didn't know that then, but later on after college, the two crossed paths again - in the same backyard. It was just meant to be.

After Bell received his degree in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington he was still unsure of what career path to take. Late 1973 was seeing an end to the Vietnam War and Bell decided to join the U.S. Air Force. He thought it would be great to be a fighter pilot. Unfortunately, he did not qualify for his dream job, but that did lead to some very intriguing alternatives.

Colonel Bell sports his flight suit on Career Day.

His training prepared him for a specialization in electronic warfare. His first assignment took him and wife Ina to Abilene and Dyess AFB. There he analyzed the use of radar and defense systems on the B-52 during the Cold War. A later assignment in Omaha, Neb. would include electronic surveillance analysis using the RC-135.

Bell's assignment to West Point U.S. Military Academy would take him back to his childhood, the childhood that made him fluent in Portuguese. He was assigned to the language department at West Point and taught cadets for three years. It was those years in the classroom that planted the seed that would one day lead Bell back to rows of desks and chalkboards.

After several duty assignments in the U.S. Bell returned to Brazil. Still on assignment for the U.S.A.F., he really felt at home again. And this was Ina's first experience of living out of the country.

Bell spent three years interfacing with the Brazilian government in the liaison's office. He coordinated survival training for U.S. and Brazilian soldiers and arranged for exchanges between the governments to keep everyone happy and on equal ground.

He also served a tour in Portugal as a defense attaché. As a U.S. government representative, he ensured that governments that had Allied agreements with the U.S. kept their side of said agreements.

His military career ended after 29 years of service including his last assignment as ROTC Commander at San Angelo State.

"We were back in Texas, but it wasn't home like we had always talked about," Bell said. "And when I heard someone use the term 'majestic' and 'mesquite' in the same sentence, I knew it was time to head for East Texas."

That relocation found them making camp and finally home in Chapel Hill. In 2003 Bell came to Whitehouse High School after receiving his teaching certification at the University of Texas at Tyler.

He found those days in the classroom at West Point and San Angelo State prepared him for his next career as a high school government and histor y teacher.

And as with the military, Bell does not do things half way. He not only teaches American History and Government but also U.S. Government dual level with Tyler Junior College.

Bell's years of leadership have given him a yearning to instill that skill in young people. He does that daily in his classroom and also as co-sponsor of the WHS Student Council. He shares those duties with Jessica Huddleston.

Bell says the student council has come a long way in past couple of years. This year they will be giving a $500 scholarship to a deserving student who exercises great leadership qualities in their school and community. They were also very involved in the Great Texas Trash Off and recycling efforts of Keep Whitehouse Beautiful and were a contributing sponsor and participant in the Susan G. Komen race where they walked and ran in memory of Cathy Crank, a WHS teacher who lost her battle with breast cancer.

Through the efforts of the Student Council, WHS was one of the first campuses in Texas to adopt the Teens in the Driver Seat program. It is the first peer-to-peer driving safety program in the nation. Unlike any other safety initiative targeting young people behind the wheel, TDS involves teens directly to help develop and deliver the right message. Especially with the recent events involving Whitehouse young people in car crashes, Bell hopes this program will result in students thinking before choosing to drive while distracted.

Bell's message to his seniors is to be active and involved and live up to their civic responsibility.

"I hope something I've laid on them here they will use in life," Bell said.

Words of wisdom go a long way in the growth of a child into an adult, but a role model does more than talk about it. He lives it. Mr. Bell, you have lived it. Thank you for continuing to be of service to your country in our little part of world.