Otis Calvin Bell, Sr. was born on a sharecropper farm in Hiram, Paulding County, GA on June 16, 1923. His parents were Francis "Frank" Bell & Sophronia "Fronie" Petty.
From a large family of 10+ children, "OC" Bell worked hard on his parents' farm until he graduated from Hiram High School in Hiram, Paulding, Georgia on June 1, 1941. He moved to Atlanta and worked for Sears Roebuck for about a year before joining the war effort for WWII.
Otis entered the US Army as a Private on January 23, 1943 at Fort McPherson, GA. He served in the European Theater of Operation for 31 months as a Sergeant in charge of the clerks in an Ordinance Depot Company. He was honorably discharged from the Army on February 1, 1946.
From 1946 - 1949, he studied at the University of Georgia, Atlanta Law School, and Emory University where he graduated with an LL.B Degree in 1949. Learning came very easily to him in his studies. He passed the Georgia State Bar Examination on his first attempt and entered private law practice in September 1949.
On January 23, 1949, Otis married Doris Etta North from Carrollton, Carroll, Georgia. Their children Gwen, Otis, and Greg were born from 1950 to 1958. The children were raised in Decatur, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Dallas, Georgia.
During his practice Otis handled several thousands of lawsuits in all courts: Justice of Peace, Superior Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Federal Courts. He practiced in all fields of law: Civil, Corporate, Criminal, Banking, Mortgage Loans, Real Estate, Administrative Laws, Will and Estate, Financing, Torte, Contracts, Administrative Laws, and Workmen Compensation Laws.
Otis worked hard in his law practice, as well as in outside honor societies. He became both a Mason and a Shriner. He served in many important posts as Worshipful Master, High Priest, Illustrious Master, and Eminent Commander. In 1956 he was elected to the Honorable Degree of Knights within the York Rite of Honor, the highest honor one can obtain in the York Rite Bodies and he attained this honor at the age of 29.
Otis was also a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was in charge of publishing the Masonic Messenger newsletter for more than 93,000 Masons in Georgia for over three years. He also handled public relations for them throughout Georgia. He often traveled throughout Georgia to conduct his public relations program.
In the 1960's, Otis C. Bell served as Paulding County's Attorney and ran his own law practice. He reviewed all legal questions for the officials and well as handling all litigation including condemnation suits. During his lifetime, Otis closed on over one and one-half million dollars of real estate transactions. Aside from his law practice, he organized, owned, operated, marketed sales, and handled all public relations for "Melrose Hills Cemetery" in Paulding County. He also owned and operated the Morgan Investment Company which handled all the loans and closings for corporations, as well as selling loans to banks and insurance companies.
Unfortunately, his law office in Dallas, Georgia burned to the ground on December 21, 1968 due to a fault in an electrical cord for lights on a Christmas tree in his main street office window. The fire was huge, burned many buildings, and destroyed all his records, law books, equipment, and furnishings at a loss at the time of over $43,000. Sadly he did not have the heart to continue with his law practice. After his office burned, Otis tried hard to start over in sales and marketing for a large real estate organization.
Otis' family received a call on October 12, 1970 that he had died at his beloved Melrose Hills Cemetery of a massive heart attack. He is greatly missed by his friends and family.
He is survived by his wife Doris North Bell of Carrollton, Georgia; his children Gwendolyn, Otis Jr., and Gregory Bell of Sandy Springs, Georgia; numerous brothers, sisters, brother-in-laws, sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
(Bio from private papers circa 1968, discovered 2016)
From a large family of 10+ children, "OC" Bell worked hard on his parents' farm until he graduated from Hiram High School in Hiram, Paulding, Georgia on June 1, 1941. He moved to Atlanta and worked for Sears Roebuck for about a year before joining the war effort for WWII.
Otis entered the US Army as a Private on January 23, 1943 at Fort McPherson, GA. He served in the European Theater of Operation for 31 months as a Sergeant in charge of the clerks in an Ordinance Depot Company. He was honorably discharged from the Army on February 1, 1946.
From 1946 - 1949, he studied at the University of Georgia, Atlanta Law School, and Emory University where he graduated with an LL.B Degree in 1949. Learning came very easily to him in his studies. He passed the Georgia State Bar Examination on his first attempt and entered private law practice in September 1949.
On January 23, 1949, Otis married Doris Etta North from Carrollton, Carroll, Georgia. Their children Gwen, Otis, and Greg were born from 1950 to 1958. The children were raised in Decatur, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Dallas, Georgia.
During his practice Otis handled several thousands of lawsuits in all courts: Justice of Peace, Superior Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Federal Courts. He practiced in all fields of law: Civil, Corporate, Criminal, Banking, Mortgage Loans, Real Estate, Administrative Laws, Will and Estate, Financing, Torte, Contracts, Administrative Laws, and Workmen Compensation Laws.
Otis worked hard in his law practice, as well as in outside honor societies. He became both a Mason and a Shriner. He served in many important posts as Worshipful Master, High Priest, Illustrious Master, and Eminent Commander. In 1956 he was elected to the Honorable Degree of Knights within the York Rite of Honor, the highest honor one can obtain in the York Rite Bodies and he attained this honor at the age of 29.
Otis was also a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was in charge of publishing the Masonic Messenger newsletter for more than 93,000 Masons in Georgia for over three years. He also handled public relations for them throughout Georgia. He often traveled throughout Georgia to conduct his public relations program.
In the 1960's, Otis C. Bell served as Paulding County's Attorney and ran his own law practice. He reviewed all legal questions for the officials and well as handling all litigation including condemnation suits. During his lifetime, Otis closed on over one and one-half million dollars of real estate transactions. Aside from his law practice, he organized, owned, operated, marketed sales, and handled all public relations for "Melrose Hills Cemetery" in Paulding County. He also owned and operated the Morgan Investment Company which handled all the loans and closings for corporations, as well as selling loans to banks and insurance companies.
Unfortunately, his law office in Dallas, Georgia burned to the ground on December 21, 1968 due to a fault in an electrical cord for lights on a Christmas tree in his main street office window. The fire was huge, burned many buildings, and destroyed all his records, law books, equipment, and furnishings at a loss at the time of over $43,000. Sadly he did not have the heart to continue with his law practice. After his office burned, Otis tried hard to start over in sales and marketing for a large real estate organization.
Otis' family received a call on October 12, 1970 that he had died at his beloved Melrose Hills Cemetery of a massive heart attack. He is greatly missed by his friends and family.
He is survived by his wife Doris North Bell of Carrollton, Georgia; his children Gwendolyn, Otis Jr., and Gregory Bell of Sandy Springs, Georgia; numerous brothers, sisters, brother-in-laws, sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
(Bio from private papers circa 1968, discovered 2016)
Otis Calvin Bell, Sr. was born on a sharecropper farm in Hiram, Paulding County, GA on June 16, 1923. His parents were Francis "Frank" Bell & Sophronia "Fronie" Petty.
From a large family of 10+ children, "OC" Bell worked hard on his parents' farm until he graduated from Hiram High School in Hiram, Paulding, Georgia on June 1, 1941. He moved to Atlanta and worked for Sears Roebuck for about a year before joining the war effort for WWII.
Otis entered the US Army as a Private on January 23, 1943 at Fort McPherson, GA. He served in the European Theater of Operation for 31 months as a Sergeant in charge of the clerks in an Ordinance Depot Company. He was honorably discharged from the Army on February 1, 1946.
From 1946 - 1949, he studied at the University of Georgia, Atlanta Law School, and Emory University where he graduated with an LL.B Degree in 1949. Learning came very easily to him in his studies. He passed the Georgia State Bar Examination on his first attempt and entered private law practice in September 1949.
On January 23, 1949, Otis married Doris Etta North from Carrollton, Carroll, Georgia. Their children Gwen, Otis, and Greg were born from 1950 to 1958. The children were raised in Decatur, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Dallas, Georgia.
During his practice Otis handled several thousands of lawsuits in all courts: Justice of Peace, Superior Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Federal Courts. He practiced in all fields of law: Civil, Corporate, Criminal, Banking, Mortgage Loans, Real Estate, Administrative Laws, Will and Estate, Financing, Torte, Contracts, Administrative Laws, and Workmen Compensation Laws.
Otis worked hard in his law practice, as well as in outside honor societies. He became both a Mason and a Shriner. He served in many important posts as Worshipful Master, High Priest, Illustrious Master, and Eminent Commander. In 1956 he was elected to the Honorable Degree of Knights within the York Rite of Honor, the highest honor one can obtain in the York Rite Bodies and he attained this honor at the age of 29.
Otis was also a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was in charge of publishing the Masonic Messenger newsletter for more than 93,000 Masons in Georgia for over three years. He also handled public relations for them throughout Georgia. He often traveled throughout Georgia to conduct his public relations program.
In the 1960's, Otis C. Bell served as Paulding County's Attorney and ran his own law practice. He reviewed all legal questions for the officials and well as handling all litigation including condemnation suits. During his lifetime, Otis closed on over one and one-half million dollars of real estate transactions. Aside from his law practice, he organized, owned, operated, marketed sales, and handled all public relations for "Melrose Hills Cemetery" in Paulding County. He also owned and operated the Morgan Investment Company which handled all the loans and closings for corporations, as well as selling loans to banks and insurance companies.
Unfortunately, his law office in Dallas, Georgia burned to the ground on December 21, 1968 due to a fault in an electrical cord for lights on a Christmas tree in his main street office window. The fire was huge, burned many buildings, and destroyed all his records, law books, equipment, and furnishings at a loss at the time of over $43,000. Sadly he did not have the heart to continue with his law practice. After his office burned, Otis tried hard to start over in sales and marketing for a large real estate organization.
Otis' family received a call on October 12, 1970 that he had died at his beloved Melrose Hills Cemetery of a massive heart attack. He is greatly missed by his friends and family.
He is survived by his wife Doris North Bell of Carrollton, Georgia; his children Gwendolyn, Otis Jr., and Gregory Bell of Sandy Springs, Georgia; numerous brothers, sisters, brother-in-laws, sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
(Bio from private papers circa 1968, discovered 2016)
From a large family of 10+ children, "OC" Bell worked hard on his parents' farm until he graduated from Hiram High School in Hiram, Paulding, Georgia on June 1, 1941. He moved to Atlanta and worked for Sears Roebuck for about a year before joining the war effort for WWII.
Otis entered the US Army as a Private on January 23, 1943 at Fort McPherson, GA. He served in the European Theater of Operation for 31 months as a Sergeant in charge of the clerks in an Ordinance Depot Company. He was honorably discharged from the Army on February 1, 1946.
From 1946 - 1949, he studied at the University of Georgia, Atlanta Law School, and Emory University where he graduated with an LL.B Degree in 1949. Learning came very easily to him in his studies. He passed the Georgia State Bar Examination on his first attempt and entered private law practice in September 1949.
On January 23, 1949, Otis married Doris Etta North from Carrollton, Carroll, Georgia. Their children Gwen, Otis, and Greg were born from 1950 to 1958. The children were raised in Decatur, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Dallas, Georgia.
During his practice Otis handled several thousands of lawsuits in all courts: Justice of Peace, Superior Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Federal Courts. He practiced in all fields of law: Civil, Corporate, Criminal, Banking, Mortgage Loans, Real Estate, Administrative Laws, Will and Estate, Financing, Torte, Contracts, Administrative Laws, and Workmen Compensation Laws.
Otis worked hard in his law practice, as well as in outside honor societies. He became both a Mason and a Shriner. He served in many important posts as Worshipful Master, High Priest, Illustrious Master, and Eminent Commander. In 1956 he was elected to the Honorable Degree of Knights within the York Rite of Honor, the highest honor one can obtain in the York Rite Bodies and he attained this honor at the age of 29.
Otis was also a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was in charge of publishing the Masonic Messenger newsletter for more than 93,000 Masons in Georgia for over three years. He also handled public relations for them throughout Georgia. He often traveled throughout Georgia to conduct his public relations program.
In the 1960's, Otis C. Bell served as Paulding County's Attorney and ran his own law practice. He reviewed all legal questions for the officials and well as handling all litigation including condemnation suits. During his lifetime, Otis closed on over one and one-half million dollars of real estate transactions. Aside from his law practice, he organized, owned, operated, marketed sales, and handled all public relations for "Melrose Hills Cemetery" in Paulding County. He also owned and operated the Morgan Investment Company which handled all the loans and closings for corporations, as well as selling loans to banks and insurance companies.
Unfortunately, his law office in Dallas, Georgia burned to the ground on December 21, 1968 due to a fault in an electrical cord for lights on a Christmas tree in his main street office window. The fire was huge, burned many buildings, and destroyed all his records, law books, equipment, and furnishings at a loss at the time of over $43,000. Sadly he did not have the heart to continue with his law practice. After his office burned, Otis tried hard to start over in sales and marketing for a large real estate organization.
Otis' family received a call on October 12, 1970 that he had died at his beloved Melrose Hills Cemetery of a massive heart attack. He is greatly missed by his friends and family.
He is survived by his wife Doris North Bell of Carrollton, Georgia; his children Gwendolyn, Otis Jr., and Gregory Bell of Sandy Springs, Georgia; numerous brothers, sisters, brother-in-laws, sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
(Bio from private papers circa 1968, discovered 2016)
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