Richard Bryan Bell

Richard Bryan Bell
Patriot, leader, businessman known for his integrity and character, loyal friend, gentleman, and diehard Yellow Jacket, Richard Bell was all of these, but above all he can be defined by his dedication to his cherished family and to Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where he held various leadership roles for 40 years. He was a rock of stability for the entire Bell clan. Richard passed away on March 26 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28 at PRUMC at 3180 Peachtree Rd.

Richard and Gail, his wife of almost 50 years, loved planning family adventures and led an active lifestyle of hiking, biking, and exploring. From military transport planes to the family station wagon to luxury cruise liners, they traveled the world together, almost achieving their goal of visiting all 50 states and 7 continents. He was a great singer and was always one of the first ones tearing up the dance floor on festive occasions.

A proud graduate of Georgia Tech, Richard earned his Industrial Management degree in 1961 and went on to serve as President of the National Alumni Association. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Tech Wesley Foundation for 17 years. The day after graduating from Navy OCS in 1962, he married the love of his life. They moved to Taiwan where he served his country as Assistant Provost Marshal and as Lieutenant (jg) in U.S. Naval Intelligence in Washington D.C.

He began his career in Atlanta commercial and industrial real estate with Pope and Carter Company, later striking out on his own to form Bell Cowart & Jackson and then the Richard Bell Company where he worked up until his passing. He served as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Real Estate Board for many years and was one of the founding members of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, of which he was named Realtor of the Year in 1990. He received the Silver Phoenix Award signifying 10 years on the Boards Million Dollar Club and was recently named an Emeritus Member signifying 40 years on the Board. As past President of the Georgia Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, Richard provided service, leadership and support to the Atlanta Real estate community for over 45 years.

Always civic-minded, Richard was in Leadership Georgia and an early guiding force in Leadership Atlanta. He was a member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the Buckhead Business Association. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia, was a charter member of the High Museum of Art, and contributed to various charities.

Richards involvement in politics began at the Fulton County precinct level in the mid-1960s when Georgia Republicans could all fit in a phone booth, and he served in various leadership roles in the local GOP. He had the honor of driving his favored candidate George H.W. Bush around Atlanta in his convertible during presidential primary season in the 1980s. Richard served in the late Georgia Senator Paul Coverdells kitchen cabinet and ran unsuccessfully for his vacated senate seat in 1989.

Richard was born in Bremen, Georgia to Joyce and Henry Bell. He leaves behind his loving wife, son Richard Bryan Bell Jr., daughter Ansley Bell, and son-in-law Chris Taylor, as well as his brother Jim and Amanda Bell, sisters Susan and David MacDonald and Mary and Ben Worthy and their families, in-laws Gloria and Don Stahle, an aunt, cousins, and innumerable friends and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PRUMC (404.266.2373), the Tech Wesley Foundation (404.892.6317), or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 155 Professional Park Drive, Cumming, Georgia. (678) 455-5815. Online condolences at www.byarsfuneralhome.com