Mr. Bell, was born in Wharton, Texas on April 15, 1955. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where in 1977 he received a B.A.

                After graduating from college, he worked in construction, real estate sales and appraisal for several years before going to law school at the University of Houston School of Law (1980 - 83).

                While attending law school, he served as the Executive Editor of the Houston Law Review. During his term of office as Executive Editor, the law review published a book entitled "Texas Rules of Evidence Handbook," in addition to their regular publications. This book remains a widely used authority on the Texas civil rules of evidence.