Mountain Empire Football Hall of fame
Inducted 2021
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John Robert Bell, Sr.
Coach John Robert Bell, Sr. has the destination of having the National Football Foundation Mountain Empire Coach's Award named in his honor. Bell attended and played football at Dobyns-Bennett High School. He attended Georgia Tech where he played both offense and defense. Bell began his coaching career in 1953 with Georgia Tech before becoming the Head Coach at University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1957. Bell became the Athletic Director for the Ragin’ Cajuns (1957-1958) before returning as an Assistant Coach at Georgia Tech. In 1966, Bell became the Head Coach and Athletic Director at East Tennessee State University until he retired in 1973. In 1969 Bell was selected as the OVC Football Coach of the Year, and NCAA Coach of the Year for District IV. His 1969 Buccaneer football team went undefeated with a 10-0-1 record and winning the Rice Bowl. From 1943 - 1949 Bell served as an officer in the US Navy where he was a deck watch and gunnery officer during World War II. Bell served as the Southeast Regional Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes & Vocational Guidance Counselor for Sullivan North & South High Schools, Kingsport, TN. Bell had served on the Johnson City School Board, the board of directors of Haven of Mercy, the local chapter of the National Football Foundation and had directed Shepherd’s Breakfast Munsey Memorial UMC. Coach Bell is a member of the East Tennessee State Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. |