Terrel Bell
| Terrel Bell | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 2nd United States Secretary of Education | |
|
In office January 22, 1981 – December 31, 1984 |
|
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Shirley Hufstedler |
| Succeeded by | Bill Bennett |
| United States Commissioner of Education | |
|
In office June 1974 – July 1976 |
|
| President |
Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | John Ottina |
| Succeeded by | Edward Aguirre |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Terrel Howard Bell November 11, 1921 Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 1996 (aged 74) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Betty Fitzgerald |
| Children | Mark Warren Glenn Peter |
| Alma mater |
Idaho State University University of Idaho, Moscow University of Utah |
| Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Rank |
 Sergeant
|
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Terrel Howard Bell (November 11, 1921 – June 22, 1996) was the Secretary of Education in the Cabinet of President Ronald Reagan.
Bell was born in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, on November 11, 1921. When Bell was eight years old, his father died. Bell graduated from the Albion State Normal School in Idaho. After this he served as a school superintendent of various schools in Idaho and Wyoming.
Bell spent much of his professional career in Utah. He served as a sergeant in the Marines during World War II and returned to Idaho to get his education. After earning a B.A. from the Southern Idaho College of Education in Albion in 1946, Bell started a career as a high school teacher and bus driver.
On August 1, 1957, Bell married the former Betty Ruth Fitzgerald, with whom he had four sons: Mark F., Warren T., Glenn M. and Peter F. Bell. He later earned an M.A. from the University of Idaho in 1954, and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Utah in 1961. Bell also served as Utah's Commissioner of Higher Education. He was the superintendent of Weber School District in Utah from 1958-1962.
Bell served as the United States Commissioner of Education (prior to the creation of the cabinet position) under Presidents Nixon and Ford from 1974 to 1976.
Appointed to the Reagan cabinet, Bell was expected to preside over the dismantling of the Department of Education, but he ran into the legal requirement that such a dismantling required legislation. He was well-known, admired, and respected in education circles, having risen from high school teacher through college professor to administrative positions. Bell stood out as a humble man in an administration of moneyed people—he drove a U-Haul truck from Utah to Washington when he moved.
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Wikipedia