"Red" Bell

Elwood G. "Red" Bell Jr. passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2015, at the age of 78 in Henderson, Nevada.

Red Bell was born on May 6, 1936 in Illinois, but moved to California in his late teens. He took up shooting, worked in The Hollywood Gun Store, served as a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and became an outstanding skeet and trap shooter and handgunner.

Red Bell began his publishing career in 1960 as the assistant managing editor at Guns & Ammo, a new magazine that had been started in 1958 by Robert E. Peterson, the owner of a publishing empire devoted to cars and motorcycles. Red Bell's extensive knowledge of firearms, shooting and the printing business made him an excellent choice for the new magazine and within his first year he was promoted to managing editor. For twenty-five years he managed the artistic, editorial and production of a monthly magazine that grew in circulation and influence. According to an article in Guns & Ammo in 2008, "His attention to detail, encyclopedic firearms knowledge and efficiency contributed to the high regard in which he was held by those who worked for him." In 1985, Red Bell became editor.

In 1993 Red Bell became one of only two men who had held the positions of Editor of Guns & Ammo magazine and the Director of Publication for the National Rifle Association (NRA). His responsibilities at the NRA included publishing two monthly magazines, The American Rifleman and The American Hunter, with a combined circulation of more than 3 million subscribers. His most important contribution was modernizing NRA publications and converting the production to an industry standard Mac based desktop publishing system. During his tenure he was instrumental in developing a third magazine option for membersa�"The American Guardiana�"that later became 1st Freedom. He retired in 2000 to Henderson, NV.

Mr. Bell was preceded in death by his father, Elwood Greer Bell, and his mother, Mildred Holt Goldthorp. He was married and later divorced to Catherine E. Baldwin and Margaret E. Peterson.

He is survived by his long-time sweetheart, Carol Winet. He is also survived by three sisters: Susan Bishop of Aurora, CO; Gail Huskey of Portland, OR and Julie Smith of Kerry, ID; four children: Lynn (John) Moran, Cathe (Ken) Dickey, David Bell and Paul Bell; twenty-two grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at the LDS Chapel, 1500 Amador Lane, Henderson, NV. Viewing will be at 10:00 A.M. with services at 11:00 A.M. Internment at the Boulder City Cemetery, 501 Adams Boulevard, Boulder City, NV. Family and friends can sign an online memorial guestbook at www.bouldercityfamilymortuary.com.