My friend Perry Bell

There are just certain special people in the world that you are grateful you had the chance to meet. I had not only had the pleasure of meeting one of them, I had the privilege of working alongside him for over a decade.

Perry Bell was born in West Virginia, but his true hometown is Knoxville, Iowa. A standout athlete in wrestling and football - including contributions to the team's last undefeated season in 1975 - Perry went on to college across the Des Moines River to Pella's Central College. There, he continued to wrestle and do what he does best - make people smile and feel good about themselves.

Perry Bell is pictured interviewing
Knoxville football coach Eric Kellar.

After college, Perry chose to stay in Knoxville and tell the stories of Marion County athletes. For over 30 years, he has continued to do so for newspapers in Knoxville and Pella.

"A commitment of over 30 years to the communities in Marion County is telling," Iowa High School Athletic Association Spokesperson Bud Legg said. "One doesn’t stay that long unless they genuinely care for the people." 

Of all people, Legg should know. He and Perry have been acquainted for over 20 years, including the 16 1/2 Legg has been with the IHSAA.

It's easy for one to get to know leaders of the boys' high school sports agency when you're responsible for covering six schools. Perry routinely covers Knoxville, Pella, Pella Christian, Melcher-Dallas, Twin Cedars and Pleasantville sports. Each sports season offers the opportunity to cover at least two to three teams per school. The athletes at these schools, over the decades, have made numerous trips to the postseason - with Perry Bell in attendance at as many games, matches, meets, etc., as he possibly can.

Juggling all of these communities and sports cannot be an easy task for anyone, but Perry has found a way. As a testament to his fame - but moreover, his dedication to the young people of Marion County - nary a sporting event passes in which he does not take a few moments to speak to officials and other adults whom he has covered in the past.

They remember him, and he remembers them, as well as the school they attended. This man has too many "buddies" to count.

Each season, Perry takes part in the Iowa Newspaper Association's All-State Selections Committees. Oftentimes, he leads the room full of sportswriters to help narrow down and determine who truly are the best of the best in Iowa high school athletics.

"He is always reliable and prompt with media requests for our state events and informs me of various little insights on the teams he covers and that I can share with other media," Legg said. "His soft-spoken and hardworking ethic makes him popular not only with us but his colleagues. His reporting mirrors his personality – honest, positive, straight-forward."

Marion County has been blessed with countless talented athletes over the past 30-plus years. Perry fights for each and every one of them to get the honors they deserve, all the while not being bullish. He respects the talent of all Iowa high school athletes and has the eyes and ears to recognize who truly deserves the honor. Nevertheless, there are many athletes who have gone on to bigger and better things with Perry's support - including several current Iowa Hawkeyes.

"His professional and ethical manner  in which he covers his teams and individuals is at the top of the list in his profession," Legg added. "He does not dally in opinion on social media/Twitter about things he may disagree with, rather he picks up the phone or sees me in person to express his concerns. I have never seen in bring an undue amount of attention to himself. Rather his story and words are his bond with coaches, athletes and schools. What higher compliment can you give a writer?"

Perry Bell is pictured on the sidelines of Knoxville's historic
Ken Locke Stadium. 

When it comes to honoring athletes, Perry recognizes that there is more to the quality of the individual than an ability to run, catch or hit. The content of a student-athlete's character is just as, if not more, important to Perry when offering his support. This is further evidenced as he is one of the founders of the IHSAA's Ed Thomas Award, given to the athlete who exemplifies all of the qualities you'd want a young man graduating high school to display.

Covering sports for six high schools in community newspapers would be enough of a challenge for any sports writer, but one cannot overlook that Perry continues to cover sports at his Alma mater, Central College, and the "Sprint Car Capital of the World", the Knoxville Raceway.

He's never said it, but it's been my observation that he sees covering the college and the raceway as further opportunities to make friends. Walking through a Central crowd, or the pits of Knoxville Raceway with Perry is like hanging out with a true celebrity.

Everyone knows him. Everyone likes him. Everyone wants to shake his hand, and he does. What is most striking is joining him during the Knoxville Nationals, when the pits are full of drivers - drivers who have literally raced around the world and amassed legions of fans - who walk up to Perry with a smile, greet him by name and shake his hand like an old friend. Granted, Knoxville Raceway is the Mecca of sprint car racing, but how many local, community sports writers have been able to cultivate relationships like that with people they see maybe twice a year?

Perry is a standout professionally because of his big heart, but it is his life away from the job that truly captures what a special person he is. Besides being a tremendous friend, he is a loving husband to Lisa; brother to Kathy; "Papa" to his Little Bear, Jasmine, along with fellow grandchildren Abigail, Caitlin and Madison. Sitting across a room from him, seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter coming from him when he is interacting with all of them provided only a small taste of what I am sure is a life away from the ink that is full of love and joy.

The number of lives Perry has touched is as immeasurable as the impact he has had on Iowa athletics. All I know is that it is a blessing to call him my friend, and I'm sure there are many more who feel the same way.