John Bell Jr. (1937–2013)

John Bell Jr. was an artist who documented Arkansas history on canvas. Bell did extensive research using photographs and postcards to ensure historical accuracy in his paintings. Born with cerebral palsy, he was a wheelchair user known for lobbying to improve access to buildings and services for Arkansans with disabilities. Bell loved state parks and was instrumental in the construction of a handicapped accessible cabin built at Lake Catherine State Park in 2004. In recognition of his work with the city and state parks, the city of Fort Smith (Sebastian County) named a handicapped accessible park for him in 2022.

John Bell Jr. was born in Fort Smith on October 4, 1937, to John Henry Bell, who was a carpenter, and Lillian Sweeten Bell, a homemaker. Bell was the first of four children. While at Fort Smith High School, he won a National Scholastic Achievement Award in art, which was the first such award for the school. This award drew attention to his talent and helped him gain employment with Berkley Models as a model airplane designer following his 1958 high school graduation.

Bell attended Fort Smith Junior College (now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith) and the University of Arkansas (UA) in Fayetteville (Washington County), graduating in 1965 with a degree in art and education. Bell married his high school sweetheart Maxine Tincher of Barling (Sebastian County) in 1962. Maxine was a wheelchair user due to contracting polio at the age of seven. The couple had one daughter, born in 1965. Since Bell and his wife both used wheelchairs, the family gained attention simply by living life independently while wheelchair bound.

In 1966, Bell opened his first art studio, which was housed in a renovated carriage house on the grounds of the Fort Smith Art Center. In his early career as a self-employed commercial artist, he painted portraits and did commissioned work. His reputation as a commercial artist led to his work as chief designer for Brooks Fabrics Inc. and Willard Mirror Company. Bell later worked as director of the Fort Smith Art Downtown Project.

Bell served as president of United Cerebral Palsy Arkansas from 1970 to 1973. As a member of the Fort Smith Jaycees, Bell designed stage sets for the Miss Fort Smith beauty pageant.

Bell was known as an activist in Fort Smith in the 1970s, drawing attention to inaccessible sidewalks and buildings as part of his role as president of United Cerebral Palsy Arkansas. He also designed a car for use by a driver in a wheelchair. In recognition for his advocacy work, Bell was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council for Accessibility by Governor Frank White in 1981.

Bell’s most notable artistic work began in 1994 with the production of his first painting in a series depicting Fort Smith circa 1910. Utilizing information from period postcards and photographs, Bell rendered historically accurate depictions of the city. Other series of paintings Bell created included Mount Magazine, Van Buren (Crawford County), and Eureka Springs (Carroll County), as well as a U.S. marshals series. Fort Smith recognized him with the Civic Center Honors Award in 1998.

Bell was diagnosed with gastric cancer and began treatment in August 2013. He died on November 8, 2013, and is buried in Washington County in the Rose Cemetery.

For additional information:
Bell-Wilson, Lisa. Can You See My Dust? Tales of the Adventurous Life of John Bell Jr. Fort Smith: Red Engine Press, 2024.

Cloud, Pam. “Recreating the Past.” Southwest Times Record, May 24, 2004, p. 1B.

Dale, Tina A. “Commission Moves Forward on Naming New Fort Smith Park after John Bell Jr.” Talk Business & Politics, January 12, 2022. https://talkbusiness.net/2022/01/commission-moves-forward-on-naming-new-fort-smith-park-after-john-bell-jr/ (accessed February 28, 2025).

Darden, Lisa. “Historical Artist’s Art on Exhibit through July 1: Artist’s Work Brings the Past to Life.” Southwest Times Record, June 11, 1998, p. 2B.

“FS Artist to Exhibit in DC.” Southwest Times Record, January 10, 1993, p. 3B.

Hopkins, Jeanne. “Handicapped Man Fulfills Dream to be Independent.” Southwest Times Record, September 2, 1979, p. 1D.

Hughes, Dave. “Mural to Depict Cherokee’s Trail.” Southwest Times Record, August 27, 1988, p. 1C.

Kropp, Bill III. “In Memoriam: John Bell Jr.” Journal of the Fort Smith Historical Society 38 (April 2014): 4–5. Online at https://uafslibrary.com/fshsj/38-01_Complete_Issue.pdf (accessed February 28, 2025).

“Obituaries: John Bell Jr.” Southwest Times Record, November 11, 2013, p. 10C.

Robertson, Peggy. “Artist’s ‘Wallaby’ Tries to Answer Transportation Needs of the Handicapped.” Arkansas Gazette, October 28, 1973, p. 24C.

Schlotthauer Ann. “Trolley Museum Mural to be Dedicated.” Southwest Times Record, November 13, 1990, p. 1A.

Seubold, Linda. “Fort Smith Artist Broke Ground in Our Time.” Southwest Times Record, January 31, 1993, p. 2A.

———. “Local Artist Brings Old Garrison to Life.” Southwest Times Record, November 9, 1994, p. 5A.

Smith, Scott. “Meeting the Challenge.” Southwest Times Record, June 11, 2009, p. 4B.

Steel, Nancy. “Cream of the Crop.” Southwest Times Record, April 6, 1998, p. 1B.

———. “Lake Catherine Offers Accessibility.” Southwest Times Record, July 4, 2004, p. 7E.

Tilley, Michael. “Stepping Back, Again.” Talk Business & Politics, October 10, 2010. https://talkbusiness.net/2010/10/stepping-back-again/ (accessed February 28, 2025).

Zander, Betty. “‘A World of Brick Walls’: How Society Ignores the Handicapped.” Southwest Times Record, August 10, 1975, p. 1B.

Lisa J. Bell-Wilson
Conway, Arkansas