Biography

02/04/1914 - 07/26/2002

Major General Clarence Deshong Bell (R9) Chester, Delaware Counties 1961-2002

Early Life:

Clarence Deshong Bell, born February 4, 1914, Upland, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; son of Samuel and Belle; Ferndale High School, 1933; Swarthmore College (B.A.), 1935; Harvard Law School (LL.B.), 1938, Harvard Law School, (J.D.), 1970; United States Army Command and General Staff College; battery commander, Pennsylvania National Guard, World War II, 1941-1946; brigadier general, United States Army Reserve; attorney; elected, Republican Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1955-1960; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate (1961-2002); married Mary Isabel James; 2 children; died, while in office of the Senate, July 26, 2002, Upland, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; interment, Chester Rural Cemetery, city of Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

United States. Army Command and General Staff College; major general, Pennsylvania National Guard (retired); served 38 years active Army, National Guard, Army Reserve; 62 months active duty WWII; attorney; admission to practice, Delaware County, state, federal court system; member, Masonic bodies, 33rd degree Mason.

Awards:

Department of Veteran Affairs, Jewish War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus, B’nai B’rith, Legion of Merit, U.S. Army, Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal (2).

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1955-1960 not a candidate for reelection 1960.

Elected, Republican Pennsylvania State Senate, 1961-2002; chair, Consumer Protection & Professional licensure Committee, Legislative Budget and Finance Committee; vice-chair, Appropriations Committee; member, Military & Veterans Affairs, Rules and Executive Nominations, State Government, Transportation Committees; Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, 1981-1982; appointed, Pennsylvania appointed, Local Government Commission, 1965-1966; appointed, Commission on Interstate Cooperation, 1967-1980; appointed, Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, 1975-2002; appointed, Joint Legislative Historical and Museum Commission, 1985-1992; served until his death on July 26, 2002.

Pa. House of Representatives Biography: 

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=1254&body=H

Cited: Pennsylvania Manual, Biographies of Members of the Senate, pg. 3-12; Volume 114, December, 1999.