By BECKY HOLLAND
becky.holland@gaflnews.com
americustimesrecorder.com
AMERICUS — Gen. H. Norman Schwartzkopf once said, “I admire men of character, and I judge character not by how men deal with their superiors, but mostly how they deal with their subordinates, and that to me, is where you find out what the character of a man is.”
In the case of Griffin B. Bell, former U.S. Attorney General, one would find a man of great character, well rounded and truly as Patrick Lyons of The New York Times wrote, “a Southern gentleman of the law.”
Bell died Monday morning, at the age of 90, at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, after a long battle of failing health surrounding complications from pancreatic cancer and kidney disease. According to his granddaughter, Katherine Bell McClure, Bell had developed pneumonia, and had only been recently diagnosed with the cancer. He had been hospitalized in Americus last week, and transferred to Piedmont midweek.
Bell, born on Oct. 3, 1918 in Americus, graduated from Georgia Southwestern College, and the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps during the mid 1940s. From 1948-1961, he practiced law at King & Spalding. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Bell to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. For over 14 years, Bell served on the Fifth Circuit, and played an integral part in mediation between the court’s factions and the leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement.
In 1976, Bell was nominated by his childhood friend/neighbor, President Jimmy Carter as the 72nd Attorney General of the United States. According to history, Bell was credited with bringing the Department of Justice to the an unprecedented level of professionalism and independence. Bell served as a member of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on South Africa. In 1989, he was appointed vice chairman of President George H.W. Bush’s Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform. He also served as counsel to then President Bush during the Iran Contra incident. Mercer University Press recently published Bell’s newest book, “Footnotes to History: A Primer on the American Political Character.”
Former President Jimmy Carter, in a statement released by The Carter Center Monday, said of Bell, “Rosalynn and I are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend Griffin Bell. A trusted and enduring public figure, Griffin’s integrity, professionalism and charm were greatly valued across party lines and presidential administrations. As a World War II veteran, federal appeals court judge, civil rights advocate and U.S. Attorney General in my administration, Griffin made many lasting contributions to his native Georgia and country. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Bob Steed, senior partner at King and Spalding, said in a statement to the Associated Press, that, Bell “was thinking outside the box, before there was a box. This is a great loss for our country and a great loss for our state.”
Jim Gatewood, local attorney, told the Times-Recorder, “Our country, state and town has lost a great citizen and patriot.”
Boyce E. “Stick” Miller III, executive director, Georgia Southwestern Foundation Inc., said to the Times-Recorder, “Judge Bell’s influence on this world, this nation, this state, and this community is immeasurable. His intellect and wit, couples with a ‘down to earth’ philosophy made him approachable, reliable and inspiring.
“He was, perhaps, the most learned man I ever knew, and should have been on the Supreme Court. It was my humble privilege and honor to know him and to call him friend,” said Miller.
George Peagler, Sumter Superior Court judge and fellow quail hunter, said, “What comes to my mind when I think of Griffin Bell was a man for all seasons. He was one who loved and lived every minute of his life.
“He was the type of man who was comfortable with the common person as well as Presidents and kings, and he always made them feel comfortable with him.
“He was a devoted father, husband, grandfather and friend, and a man who never forgot his roots in Sumter County. He was a patriot, and one of the finest quail hunters I knew,” Peagler added.
Rudy Hayes, friend and former editor of the Americus Times-Recorder, said, “Griffin Bell was a respected statesmen. He loved his hometown of Americus, and was always willing to do what he could for the community throughout his life. He will be greatly missed.”
Sparky Reeves, president of South Georgia Technical College ,said, “Judge Bell was a remarkable man and the faculty, staff, and students at South Georgia Tech are deeply saddened by his death. He was an exceptional man and one whose integrity, professionalism, wit and knowledge were greatly admired by all who knew him. He was so steady, even in his last days, and grounded. You don’t find that total package in anyone,” Reeves remembered, adding, “He was a value to those around him.”
Beth Alston, executive editor of the Americus Times-Recorder, said, "I first interviewed Judge Bell back in 1978, when he spoke at GSW. My interviews with him in subsequent years have been more personal and in-depth. He never hesitated to go on the record with his opinions. I treasure our conversations, and the fact that he treated me with the same respect he did anyone else, including the national media. He will be remembered as one of the finest legal minds of the 20th century, as well as a wonderful human being."
Georgia Southwestern State University presented Bell with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree at its Fall 2008 Commencement exercises.
"Few persons other than heads of state have ever had the impact on American history that Judge Bell has had," said GSW President Kendall A. Blanchard, Ph.D. "His contributions to the state of Georgia in general and Georgia Southwestern in particular would require volumes to recount. We are saddened by his death, but feel privileged to have known him and be able to include him among the ranks of our graduates."
David E. Hudson, Georgia Press Association chief counsel, and former law clerk for Bell, said, “We’ve lost a giant. In the course of history, there are men and women who accomplish so much and are held in such esteem that they rightly can be described as ‘great.’ Judge Bell was such a great man. His public service is well known: Army officer in World War II, advisor to governors and Presidents, Federal Appeals judge and Attorney General of the United States. His name was synonymous with integrity and solving the thorniest of legal problems.”
“Equally compelling,” said Hudson of his mentor, Bell, “was his lifetime of volunteer service: chairing commissions and committees to solve international problems, to reduce crime in Atlanta, to promote better education, and to reform courts and legal procedures; providing pro bono legal counsel to a former CIA agent captured in Central America, and leading his beloved Mercer University as a 30-year trustee as its Trustee Board chairman, and as its all-time leading financial campaign chairman.
“The number of friends he made and the number of lives made better because of him are incalculable. A special gift he gave was counsel, encouragement and mentoring to young lawyers and aspiring lawyers,” said Hudson. “I know for I am one of those.”
“Before he died,” Hudson said in a phone interview with the Times-Recorder Monday afternoon, “he had three goals: one was to make his 90th birthday, which he did; two was to make the Mercer board meeting in December, which he did, and three was to make it to Jan. 1, which he did.”
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., released the following statement regarding the loss.
“Griffin Bell changed the course of history. As a judge on the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, his review and decisions to integrate school systems in Georgia and across the South was a model for integration throughout the nation. In his role as Attorney General under the Carter Administration, Judge Bell did much to restore the public’s trust in the U.S. Justice Department, which had been damaged during Watergate. Judge Bell was a friend and advisor during my years as a lawyer in Moultrie, as well as my service in the U.S. House and the Senate. He will be remembered for his intellect, devotion to the rule of law, as well as for his humor. Judge Bell was a close personal friend and this is not only a national loss, but a personal one as well.”
U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop issued the following statement.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of this great American and public servant. We have lost a true friend and a prominent leader. Griffin Bell’s distinguished service as a civil rights advocate, U.S. attorney general, World War II veteran and federal courts judge reflects his lifelong commitment to public service and the American people. Throughout his career in public service, he strove to bring people together and resolve differences in a pragmatic manner, and in the process, he made an historic difference.
“He was certainly a strong influence in my own life. In fact, he was an inspiring mentor to countless numbers of young people over the years. Griffin Bell was looked up to and loved by everyone, and he will be greatly missed.”
Griffin Bell, during World War II, was married to Mary Powell, until her death in 2000. Bell is survived by his second wife, Nancy Kinnebrew Bell; his son and daughter-in-law, Griffin and Glenda Bell Jr. of Atlanta; grandson, Griffin Bell III and his wife Jessica of Decatur; granddaughter Katherine Bell McClure, and her husband Christian of Atlanta, and five great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus. Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel, Americus is handling the arrangements.
