Katherine Harper (left), youngest living sister of Ed Bell, and Leann Bell Olivarez, his oldest sister, unveil the Ed Bell Historical Marker at Indianola Fishing Center. The marker was placed through the efforts of the Calhoun County Historical Society. -Photo by Phil Thomae

Despite the cold, windy weather on November 23, there was a large group of Calhoun County Historical Society members and friends, and relatives of the late Ed Bell in attendance for the dedication and unveiling of the Ed Bell Historical Marker.

The featured speaker at of the dedication program was Henry Wolf, longtime Texas journalist, historian and former president of the Texas Folklore Society., who read his story, “Ed Bell, Teller of Tall Tales”.

Henry Wolf displays photo of Ed Bell. -Photo by Phil Thomae

The marker was unveiled at Indianola Fishing Center by sisters of Ed Bell, Katherine Harper and Leann Bell Olivarez.
The Ed Bell Historical Marker reads:

Ed Bell

Famed storyteller David Edward “Ed” Bell was born to Calvin Oscar, Sr., and Annie (Shackelford) Bell on January 10, 1905, near Leakey, Texas. After moving to Indianola, Bell and his wife, Mary Alma (Smith), bought land along Powderhorn Bayou where they established what his customers called “Ed Bell’s Fish Camp.” Visitors to the fish camp were charmed by Bell’s tall tales and over the decades he gained notoriety as a “virtuoso storyteller” performing at story-telling events across the country. Locally, Bell contributed to the economic growth of Indianola and, through his stories, preserved its cultural history.