Excellence Personified

Just mention her name to anyone who attended Fort Valley High School (name later changed to Peach County High) over the last 60 years or so and you will hear nothing but the highest of accolades. Her name is Eleanor Bell!

When the Taylor County Schools consolidated in the mid 1960's, many of us Reynolds, Georgia folks went to Fort Valley High. I was a freshman at the time but I quickly heard the name, Eleanor Bell! She was deeply respected by students while simultaneously being feared and there were rumors (which later proved to be true) that she had eyes in the back of her head. She could stand facing the blackboard and see everything that took place in the class through those retro-fitted eyes. I personally witnessed this phenomenon thousands of times. I dreaded the day when I would have to enter her class and as I heard more and more students bemoan how difficult it was to pass her math classes ... my dread only intensified.

I recently received an email Tribute To Eleanor Bell from the Fort Valley Tribune which chronicled her life and her career at Fort Valley. At first I was heartbroken because the article appeared to be an obituary, but I quickly realized that she is very much "alive and kicking" and that the purpose of the email was to announce that December 3, 2007 will be declared Eleanor Bell day in Fort Valley. A fitting tribute to this remarkable lady. The article stated facts of which I was not aware: Miss Bell was born in Moultrie, Georgia in 1917 and moved with her family to Americus in 1922. She graduated Valedictorian from Anthony Hich School in Americus and soon began her training at Georgia Southwestern Normal School. She earned her BA degree from Oglethorpe University in 1941 followed by her masters's degree in 1943. She came to Fort Valley to teach mathematics in 1948 and closed out her stallar career in 2000. Her teaching career spanned 62 years: 10 years at Shiloh in Sumter County and followed by 52 years at FVHS and Peach County High where she was selected Star Teacher an unbelievable 15 times.

My senior year (1969-70) the dreaded moment finally arrived. I had Miss Bell first period for college algebra and then again at 4th period for Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry. My final year at FVHS would not be easy but would turn out to be one of the most rewarding times in my life. She taught me to think ... not just about mathematics but in any endeavor I would undertake. I soon found that I loved the challenge of a complex math problem. I had no fear of any math problem ... one just had to reason one's way through it. By the end of the year, I exempted the final in Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry ( but not college algebra)! She would often ask me why I seemed to have no trouble during 4th period but would sometimes struggle during first period College Algebra. ( this was well before the time that I discovered coffee)!

She had a profound influence on my life and during my college career I would have no trouble with mathematics and algebra. She gave me the confidence and the ability to reason through any problem. And if I couldn't, there was no shame ... the problem would simply become a challenge that I would enjoy even if I had to seek help.

Thank you Miss Bell for the gift you gave me! I didn't even know what the gift was until years later, but I will cherish it for the rest of my days.

By the way! I quickly lost my "fear" of Miss Bell. She had a great sense of humor and her students (including me) LOVED her. I always enjoyed trying to make her laugh and I cherish the times I sat in her classes at Fort Valley High School. What I would give to hear her familiar words: "George, what did you get for an answer to problem #7? Oh Really!!!! Why don't you come to the board and show the class how you arrived at that answer?"

You da bomb, Miss Bell!

Miss Bell continues to be active ... gardening, reading, solving crossword puzzles and preparing Sunday dinner for her family. December 3, 2007 will be her 90th birthday. If your life has been influenced by this remarkable lady, take the time to send her a birthday card:

Eleanor Bell
971 Shiloh Road
Americus, Georgia 31719