Member Biography

His full name is Bobby Lee Bell, and he was a quarterback in high school at Shelby, North Carolina. Murray Warmath recruited him for the University of Minnesota, tried him at end, then tackle. Warmath summed up Bell's versatility with a statement: "He would have been a standout at any position; he was of maximum value to us at tackle." Bell then went into pro football and became a linebacker. At Minnesota he stood 6- 4, weighed 217, and could run as fast as any of the backs. The Gophers had a 22-6-1 record and were in two Rose Bowls in Bell's time. He was two-time All-America and in 1962 won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman. United Press and the Columbus Touchdown Club named him Lineman of the Year; Coach & Athlete Magazine called him Player of the Year. His 1961 Minnesota team was national leader in rushing defense, allowing 52 yards a game. After college, Bell played with the Kansas City Chiefs 1963- 1974 and was all-pro eight times.