Dr. Greg Bell, an Olympic gold medalist who spent over 55 years in Logansport, passed away on January 25, 2024, at 94.
His wife, Mary Bell, shared that he was no longer suffering.
“He’s accomplished so much in his 94 years, and now he is in the hands of the Lord,”
Mary Bell
Highlights
- Dr Greg Bell ended his first marriage in 1987 and married Mary Lawrie in 1990.
- Mary took a break from her job as Greg’s dental assistant to focus on her hobbies, which included cooking, gardening, working with herbs, and collecting antiques.
- Mary sat by Greg’s side, holding his hand as he passed away. She had been singing “Jesus loves me” to comfort him, even though she wasn’t confident in her voice.
He won a gold medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and later earned a Doctorate in Dental Surgery.
Before the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Bell, then 90, spoke about how he got involved in track and field.
He didn’t even know the sport existed until high school. Initially, he wanted to be a pole vaulter, inspired by Tarzan, but after injuring his back, his high school principal, a champion sprinter, recommended he try the long jump.
Greg Bell Chose To Leave Private Practice And Work At Logansport State Hospital, Where His Wife Served As His Dental Assistant
Raised on a small farm just south of Terre Haute, Bell’s early years were filled with hardship.
When his family’s house burned down when he was an infant, they moved into a small chicken house that measured just 20×30 feet.
He lived there with eight siblings, three of whom shared a bed and had no electricity until he was six.
In 1950, Greg Bell was drafted into the Army to serve in the Korean War but was sent to Europe as a replacement.
During his time there, he won the French Armed Forces championships in the long jump, placed second in pole vaulting, was part of the winning relay team, and finished second in the 100 meters.
His performance earned him a spot at the All-Army championships in Nuremberg, Germany, where he took the European Armed Forces title in the long jump.
Regarding personal life, he ended his first marriage in 1987 and married Mary Lawrie in 1990.
He is survived by his son Chuck, daughter Becky, twin daughters Kelly and Shelly, and five grandchildren.
Mary took a break from her job as Greg’s dental assistant to focus on her hobbies, which included cooking, gardening, working with herbs, and collecting antiques.
After all, Dr Greg Bell’s career took another turn when he began to focus on dentistry.
While working as a dentist in Terre Haute, he realized that many people in his community couldn’t afford the typical dental fees. So, he chose to leave his private practice and work at Logansport State Hospital in a salaried position.
As they grew older, Greg Bell and his wife settled into their home in Logansport in 2019.
Mary sat by Greg’s side, holding his hand as he passed away. Despite her lack of confidence in her voice, she sang “Jesus Loves Me” to comfort him.
When he passed, she felt a change in his hand and began to cry, wondering if he had prayed for his peaceful passing. For 34 years, Mary had always tried to make him laugh, and she believed her singing gave him peace in his final moments.
Additional Information
- Beyond his gold medal in the long jump at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Bell was a three-time All-American, a two-time NCAA Champion, and a Big Ten Scholar-Athlete.
- He was inducted into five Track & Field Hall of Fames and maintained a close friendship with legendary athlete Jesse Owens.
- Bell also served as a professor at Howard University and worked for the State of Indiana for over 50 years, accumulating numerous accolades and achievements throughout his life.
