For over forty years Ed Bell owned and operated Ed Bell’s Fish Camp at Indianola, Texas. Ed spent clear days preparing fisherman and their families for a day of entertainment. Other times, Ed would spin yarns for any and all who would listen. After his retirement, Ed took his story telling skills on the road to: Washington, D. C. for the Smithsonian Museum Folk life celebration in 1976, various church, clubs, schools (both elementary and universities), San Antonio Folk Life Festival, as well as other folk life festivals around Texas, and the National Folk Life Festival in Jonesborough, TN.
Ed’s stories have been published in several books, the first was “I heard the Old Fisherman Say” by Pat Mullen. Bell has also been featured on television shows, radio, newspaper, and magazine articles. Pat Jasper produced a movie for Austin’s PBS station showing Ed’s style and natural environment of storytelling. In Texas, Tumbleweed Smith carried Ed’s taped stories. In Boston, Mass., his stories were aired on the Spider’s Web program. Newspapers across the U. S. have carried stories of Ed’s accomplishments. Some of these newspapers included The Victoria Advocate, Port Lavaca Wave, and The Luling Newsboy. Bell wrote “The Hard Way” series for the Salt Water Fisherman, published by Gary Ralston.
Bell’s stories were placed in the libraries of The University of Texas in Austin, The University of California, and the Institute of Texas Cultures in San Antonio, Texas.
Janey Briscoe, first lady of Texas at the time, presented Bell with a Certificate for Volunteer Services. A second certificate was presented to Ed by Chick Kazar, Laredo, Texas. Bell has been featured on Houston’s Channel 13, Dave Ward’s “The Eyes of Texas. He also participated in the series, “On the Road with Charles Kuralt” as a story teller.
Ed Bell passed away on April 1, 1986. The Calhoun County Historical Committee is dedicating and unveiling The Ed Bell Monument on Saturday November 23, 2013 at 1:00 PM at the Bauer Building at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds with the unveiling following at the Indianola Fishing Center, 8 Bell Street, Indianola, Texas.
