THOMAS F. BELL

Thomas Franklin Bell, 79, died Saturday, March 19, 1994, at his home in
Tupelo after a brief illness.  He was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and reared
in Starkville.  He was a 1935 graduate of Mississippi State University,
where he was a founding member of the J. Z. George Rifles, a 
prestigious drill team of Mississippi A&M.  He also was the first president
of Sigma Chi's Gamma Upsilon Chapter that was installed on campus in
1938.  

He was a retired colonel of artillery in the United State Army Reserve.  He
was a member of the Tupelo Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.  He
was a member of the Episcopal church, where he was a warden and vestryman.
He was a member of the MSU Presidents Club and the Blue Ribbon
Fraternity Study Committee.

T. Bell was very active in the Sigma Chi fraternity on a national level.  He
served as chapter adviser for Gamma Upsilon for 15 years, and was a 
member of the Gamma Upsilon House Corp.  He was appointed to the
Leadership Training Board in 1963.  A member of the Order of Constantine,
he served as Grand Trustee from 1979 until 1983, and was then elected to
the executive committee representing the Board of Grand Trustees.  He was
appointed Grand Quaester in 1983 and elected Grand Pro Consul in 1985.
In June 1987 he was elected Grand Consul of Sigma Chi.

Before retiring he was general manager of Central Services Association.
He was formerly employed by the Tennessee Valley Authority.  As an
avocation, he was a marketing specialist for Travel and Tours.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today att All Saints Episcopal Church
in Tupelo with the Rev. H. R. Goodman officiating.  Additional services will be
at 4 p.m. today at the Church of Resurrection in Starkville with the Rev. David
Johnson and the Rev. Cecil B. Jones officiating.  Burial will be in the Oddfellows
Cemeery in Starkville.  W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the
arrangements.

Tom is survived by his brother, L. D. "Dan" Mims, and sister-in-law, Susie Mims, of
El Dorado, Ark.  He also is survived by two cousins, Ailene Johnson of Nashville,
Tenn., and Carolyn Walden of Mobile, Ala.

Pallbearers will be Reed Hillen, Ron Hickman, Jim Strain, Ricky Heroman, Pete
Poland, III, Thomas A. "Tag" Gamblin, Bill McIntyre, Tom Barnett, Jeff
Cunningham, and Marty Milstead.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Visitation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. today at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville.

The body will lie in state at All Saints Episcopal Church one hour before
services.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Sigma Chi Foundation, 
P. O. Box 469, Evanston, Ill.  60204

Donated by Lacey Mims.  
Transcribed by C. L. Herrick on June 22, 2008