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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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L. D. Bell High School (Hurst, Texas)
Lawrence Dale Bell High School (generally known as L.D. Bell High School and also known as Hurst Bell) is an American high school located in the cities of Hurst and Bedford, Texas and part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. The school is named for Lawrence Dale Bell, the founder of nearby Bell Helicopter Textron, and was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 1994–96.

L. D. Bell's marching band won the Bands of America Grand National Championship in 2007. The men's and women's gymnastics teams have won a combined total of 36 state championships since 1967.

History

L.D. Bell High School Front Entrance

L.D. Bell High School opened in 1957 at a campus on Pipeline Road. Lawrence Dale Bell High School was relocated to the current campus on Brown Trail in 1965, at a site donated to the school district by Lawrence D. "Larry" Bell, Founder and President of Bell Helicopter Textron in Fort Worth. The new location was able to accommodate a growing student population resulting from the rapid suburban growth in Hurst, Euless, Bedford, and Colleyville. The former high school grounds now house Central Junior High, the H-E-B Athletic Complex, KEYS (Keeping Eligible Youth in School) High School, and the Forrest E. Watson (F.E.W.) Center.

Preceding Randy Belcher as principal was Jim Bannister, who was preceded by Jim Short. All three were preceded by the state legislature-commended E. Don Brown, a former president of both the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP).

In 2002, the school was at the center of a national zero tolerance debate when an honor student was expelled for having a non-serrated bread knife in his truck-bed. A combination of federal, state, and school district rules led the Texas Education Agency to advise that the student must be expelled for one year. The superintendent then reduced the expulsion to "time served".

In November 2023, voters approved an HEB ISD bond package that included plans to replace L.D. Bell High School with a new building at the same campus.

Campus and facilities

Aerial image of the main L.D. Bell High School campus circa 2022.

L. D. Bell High School moved to its present location in 1965. Venues on the L.D. Bell High School campus include Nathan F. Danford field (baseball); a softball field; the Raider Bowl - a football field with permanent bleachers, a track, a field house, and an observation deck; a practice football field for the marching band with an observation deck; several other large football fields; and four parking lots (faculty, student, band hall and Bell Freeway Entrance (B.F.E.) / Raider Bowl). An activity center named for former principal E. Don Brown opened in 2013 with a 60-yard indoor field, offices, and locker rooms.

The northern section of the campus grounds, including all buildings, is within the Hurst City limits. The softball diamond and most of the Raider Bowl and track are located within Bedford city limits.

L.D. Bell shares the use of district facilities such as Pennington Field for soccer, football, and marching band events and the HEB athletic field located at Central Junior High.

Student body

During the 2014–2015 school year, L. D. Bell High School enrolled 2,143 total students in grade 10 (35.5%), grade 11 (32.5%), and grade 12 (32.0%). Ethnicities represented include white (49.5%), Hispanic (27.7%), Asian and Pacific Islander (6.7%), African American (13.3%), and Native American (0.6%). Forty percent were economically disadvantaged.

There were 600 graduates in the class of 2014. The annual dropout rate is 0.2% (in 2013–2014).

L.D. Bell receives students from three feeder schools: all students from Bedford Junior High school and Hurst Junior High school attend Bell along with a share of the students from Central Junior High school. Students in the attendance zones for Bedford Heights, Bellaire, Bell Manor, Donna Park, Harrison Lane, Hurst Hills, River Trails, Shady Brook, Shady Oaks, Stonegate, and Trinity Lakes elementary schools attend L. D. Bell High School.

L.D. Bell students carry on many traditions, including "head-banging" to the drumline during pep rallies and at football games, as well as Seniors storming the gym floor at the beginning of the fight song at the end of each pep rally.

Academics

Athletics

Despite not having freshmen on campus, the 9th graders at each feeder campus are technically eligible for varsity sports programs, and on rare occasion make the teams and participate with the high school attendees.

Football

The 1982/83 varsity football team had an undefeated season and playoffs, (beating Trinity twice), before being defeated in the state championship game by West Brook Senior High (Beaumont, TX).

Gymnastics

Men's Gymnastics State Championships: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1993, 2007.

The men's gymnastics team has won 16 state titles since it was founded in 1966. The Bell men's team won their sixteenth state title in 2007, their first title in 14 years.

Women's Gymnastics State Championships: 1967, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016, 2018.

The women's gymnastics team has won 21 state championships since 1967. The team claimed state titles from 2002 to 2005.

Baseball

Men's baseball is played on campus at Nathan F. Danford field, located along Pleasantview Dr. on the northwest corner of campus. Former head coach Paul Gibson was named “Coach of the Year” in 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2018.

Ice Hockey

The ice hockey team plays at area ice rinks, including the Dr. Pepper Star's Centers in Euless, Grapevine, and Coppell.

Tennis

The school has a full complement of tennis courts located between the new Don Brown Activity Center and the parking lot at the rear of the school building. The Varsity team accepts 9th graders from the two Junior High Schools that feed L.D. Bell - Bedford Junior High and Hurst Junior High. The JV team also plays home and away games with select high schools.

Other

L.D. Bell High School also fields teams in volleyball, soccer, softball, golf and men's and women's basketball. The men's and women's soccer teams' home games are typically played at Pennington Field. Softball home games are played at the softball field on the south end of campus near the Raider Bowl.

Fine Arts / UIL Competitive Organizations

Band

In addition to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions, the band regularly competes in independent contests (usually run by schools) and Bands of America (BOA) contests at both the regional and national levels. In November 2007, the Bell marching band won the BOA Grand National Championship and additional awards for Outstanding Music Performance and Outstanding General Effect. In 2006, the marching band was awarded "Outstanding Musical Performance" and placed 2nd overall at the BOA Grand Nationals. In 2004, the band won the BOA St. Louis Super-Regional and captured all captions (specific categories of judgment - music, marching, and general effect). In other BOA Grand National competitions, the band placed 4th in 2001, 5th in 2003, 3rd in 2005, 2nd in 2006, 1st in 2007, 2nd in 2008, 2nd in 2009, 3rd in 2010, and 10th in 2013. Since 2000, the band has medaled at 22 BOA events and 4 of 4 times at the UIL State Marching Band Contest. From 1998 to 2013, the L.D. Bell Marching Band placed in the top 5 of every contest entered.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni are listed in chronological order by graduation (or expected graduation) year.

Name Distinction Graduated
John T. Montford Former Texas state senator (1983–96) and Texas Tech chancellor (1996–2007) 1961
Charlie Durkee American football player with the New Orleans Saints c. 1962
Bill Line American football player with the Chicago Bears c. 1966
Michael W. Young Awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1967
James L. Haley Author (Texas history and fiction) 1970
Karen Tandy Administrator of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 2003
Buddy Whittington Guitarist and blues musician 1975
Ron Faurot American football player with New York Jets c. 1980
Lezlie Deane Star of 976-EVIL, Girlfriend from Hell, and Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, founding vocalist of Fem2Fem and Scary Cherry And The Bang Bangs 1982
Johnny Solinger Lead vocalist of Skid Row (American band) from 1999 to 2015 1983
Cary Blanchard NFL placekicker (1992–2000) with Jets, Colts, Redskins, Giants and Cardinals 1987
Adam Setliff 1996, 2000 Olympian; 1988 State 5A discus champion and state record holder 1988?
Tommy Maddox UCLA and pro quarterback, 2002 NFL Comeback Player of the Year 1989
Dennis Allen Former Head Coach of New Orleans Saints, former head coach of Oakland Raiders 1991
Eric Vance NFL safety (1998–2002) for Buccaneers and Colts; went to Vanderbilt 1993
Mike Holloway Survivor: Worlds Apart winner 1994
Ryan Roberts MLB player with Boston Red Sox, made debut with Toronto in 2006 1999
3 of Hearts Female country music trio 2000
Chase Holbrook Football player at Southeastern Louisiana and New Mexico State; threw for over 11,000 career passing yards 2004
Marshall Henderson College basketball player with Ole Miss Rebels 2009
Josh Mauro American football player with the Arizona Cardinals c. 2009
Kyle Bartsch Baseball pitcher, formerly with the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres organizations c. 2009
Kenneth Farrow American football player with the Seattle Dragons 2010
Destiny Vélez Miss Puerto Rico 2015; Miss America Finalist 2016; Miss Fort Worth 2014; Miss Trujillo Alto 2015; SWAC Bowling Championship Winner 2014

Awards and recognitions

Year Organization Award
1982 Varsity Football UIL 5A State Finalist (2nd place)
1986 Varsity Football UIL 5A State Semifinalist
1994–1996 School National Blue Ribbon School
1995 Theater UIL One Act Play State Champion
2000 Marching Band UIL 5A State Champions
2001 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (4th Place)
2002 Gymnastics-women's State Champions
2002 Marching Band UIL 5A State Finalist (2nd place)
2003 Gymnastics-women's State Champions
2003 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (5th Place)
2004 Gymnastics-women's State Champions
2004 Marching Band UIL 5A State Champions
2005 Gymnastics-women's 5A State Champions
2005 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (3rd Place)
2006 Marching Band UIL 5A State Finalist (2nd place)
2006 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (2nd place)
2007 Gymnastics (Men - Team) State Champions (Team)
2007 Gymnastics (Men - Individual) Individual High Bar State Champion (Abram Holt)
2007 Gymnastics (Men - Individual) Individual Vault State Champion (Tyler Martin)
2007 Marching Band BOA Grand National Champion;
2008 Gymnastics (Men - Team) State Runner-ups (2nd Place)
2008 Gymnastics (Men - Individual) All-Around State Champion (Nik Bosnyak)
2008 Gymnastics (Men - Individual) Individual Floor and Parallel Bars State Champion (Elijah Holt)
2008 Marching Band UIL 5A State Finalist (2nd place)
2008 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (2nd place)
2009 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (2nd place)
2009 Gymnastics (Men-Individual) Vault State Champion (Elijah Holt)
2010 Gymnastics (Men-Individual) Floor, Parallel Bars and All Around State Champion (Elijah Holt)
2010 Choral (Bell System Show Choir) First Place Show Choir, Windy City Classic, Chicago
2010 Choral (A Cappella Choir) Vocal Ensemble Grand Champions, Windy City Classic, Chicago
2010 Marching Band UIL 5A State Finalist (2nd place)
2010 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (3rd place)
2012 Marching Band UIL 5A State Finalist (3rd Place)
2013 Marching Band BOA Grand National Finalist (10th place)

References

  1. ^ "Administrators & Front Office - L.D. Bell High School". Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  2. ^ "BELL H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "Search for Public Schools - Bell H S (482406002663)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  4. ^ "Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002" (PDF). Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  5. ^ "Bell Band Wins National Championship". Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. 2007-11-18. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved 2007-11-18. (permanent link)
  6. ^ "Grand National Champions, L.D. Bell High School". L.D. Bell Band. 2007-11-18. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  7. ^ "My High School - Hurst L.D. Bell Raiders - Sports History". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  8. ^ Smith (2001-05-04). "TLO - 77(R) History for HR 839". Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  9. ^ Principals.org - National Association of Secondary School Principals - NASSP
  10. ^ "E.Don Brown joins TASSP staff as Interim Director of High School Services". TASSP. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  11. ^ BARRY SIEGEL (2002-08-19). "Student snagged by zero tolerance prompts soul-searching". LOS ANGELES TIMES. HURST, Texas.
  12. ^ Sgroi, Matthew (2023-09-25). "HEB ISD proposes $1 billion bond to upgrade aging schools". Fort Worth Report. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
    Sanchez, Jacob; Sgroi, Matthew (2023-11-08). "Voters approve combined $1.5B in school upgrades for Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, HEB districts". Fort Worth Report. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
    "What's Proposed -- HEB ISD Bond 2023". HEB ISD. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  13. ^ "Hundreds turn out for activity center ribbon cuttings". Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School District. 2013-05-16. Archived from the original on 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  14. ^ "070118_ZoningMap.pdf" (PDF). City of Bedford, TX. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  15. ^ "2014-15 Texas Academic Performance Report: BELL H S" (PDF). Texas Education Agency, re-hosted by HEB ISD. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  16. ^ "HEB ISD:Map & Attendance Zones". Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School District. Archived from the original on 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  17. ^ "Nine Named National Merit Finalists". Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. 2007-02-14. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  18. ^ "America's Most Challenging High Schools: Lawrence D. Bell". Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  19. ^ "Tarrant schools make the grade", Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Northeast edition), 2007-05-22
    "America's Top Public High Schools". Newsweek. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  20. ^ Brock, Katherine Cromer; Claassen, Jeff (2007-05-16), "School ratings can hide disparities: Another way to gauge high school quality", Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Northeast edition), pp. 1B, 9B (direct link to chart) Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "Academic Excellence Indicator System; 2005-06 District Performance; Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD; Trinity H S". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  22. ^ "Past Champions (Men, Division I)". Texas High School Gymnastic Coaches Association. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  23. ^ Nathan Wright (2007-05-06). "Hurst L.D. Bell continues collecting state gymnastics titles". WFAA.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  24. ^ "Past Champions (Women, Division I)". Texas High School Gymnastic Coaches Association. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  25. ^ Rick Mauch (2016-05-09). "Bell girls gymnastics takes 20th state championship". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  26. ^ C. Anthony Mosser (2007-06-16). "2007 All-Area Gymnastics". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  27. ^ "About.htm". L.D. Bell Band. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  28. ^ "Bands of America Arlington Regional Championship". L.D. Bell Band. 2009-10-12. Archived from the original on 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  29. ^ "WFAA.com - My High School; Hurst L.D. Bell Raiders; Famous Alumni". WFAA.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2005-05-15.
  30. ^ "L.D. Bell Alumni Pro Stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  31. ^ Tom Uhler (2017-10-04). "This North Texas high school claims a Nobel Prize winner". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  32. ^ "Inside the DEA, DEA Leadership, Karen P. Tandy, DEA Administrator". Drug Enforcement Administration. Archived from the original on 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  33. ^ "Public Relations & Marketing / Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  34. ^ Raider '82 (L.D. Bell High School Yearbook, Volume 26), 1982, p. 257
  35. ^ Jordan Bastian (2007-05-15). "Notes: Jays hope Roberts can fill role". Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  36. ^ "L. D. Bell HS (Hurst, TX) Baseball Players". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  37. ^ "Kenneth Farrow - Football - University of Houston Athletics". University of Houston. Retrieved 2019-01-21.

32°50′34″N 97°09′46″W / 32.842911°N 97.162727°W / 32.842911; -97.162727

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