Daily Pilot Hall of Fame: Rex Bell

Don Cantrell

Rex Bell, a versatile early-day Newport Harbor High athlete who

captured 12 CIF medals in swimming and diving, and later served as a

walk-on diving coach for Estancia High, is the latest Daily Pilot Hall of

Fame honoree.

Bell and his older brother, Jack, were born in Pattonville, Texas, in

the early 1930s before their father, the late Albert, moved them to the

Tustin area in 1936, then Costa Mesa by the mid-40s.

The brothers excelled in many sports as young boys, but it was

tumbling and gymnastics that finally sparked them into a future career in

diving and swimming. The first ribbons in swimming came in 1944 with the

pair winning 23 of them in Southern California.

Rex drew marvelous attention at age 12 in 1946 from a celebrity,

Esther Williams, who had made it big in swimming and the movies.

Bell was honored with a kiss after winning a 50-yard swim race in the

Los Angeles Coliseum.

He also finished second in the National Examiner Swim Meet later that

year in the same stadium.

As time passed, Rex scored impressive triumphs in swimming and diving

in numerous other programs and events, which included the YMCA. Both

brothers were active in high school football as fleet-footed halfbacks.

Rex was a sterling member of the 1951 team coached by Al Irwin.

Bell, named “Tar of the Year” in 1952, recalled one amusement from his

senior year in football.

“My head was too small and I had worn the same helmet, always adding

padding since I was a freshman,” he said. “It was worn and looked

horrible by my senior year. It became clear to (Irwin) that it could not

really be fixed.”

Irwin finally turned to Bell and exclaimed, “Well, at least we can

paint the thing.”

Five members of the 1951 Newport varsity team were named All-Sunset

League. They were Bell, quarterback Rolly Pulaski, fullback Don Aarvold,

center Bob Eggert and tackle Tony Pridham.

The ’51 team, lagging on speed and experience, only won two games. It

competed well through five contests and lost two by wide margins.

As the years came to pass, Bell became engaged in many other sports

and collected many honors and achievements.

These sports included water skiing, racing high-speed motor boats,

outboard marathon racing, motorcycle racing and golf.

He taught and shared a number of sports with his three sons, Lewis,

Jack and Marshall.

“My son Marshall was a great springboard diver and ever as good as his

dad and uncle,” Bell said.

Like their father, the other two sons were both All-CIF in diving at

Harbor High.