The wake for Hall of Fame Coach Paul Bell was much more than a celebration of life, but an ongoing celebration and bonding of friendships. Saturday, April 9 was the funeral for Coach Bell and it was an emotional education of eight speakers that included his grandson, close friend Ray Grandsatff, Rusty Griffis, Lucious and Dewey Selmon, J.C. Watts, Larry Newton and Noah Palmer.

Each had their own stories how coach Bell helped influence them and imbedded characteristics that they carry to this day. One touching moment was when J.C. Watts said that he couldn’t have picked coach Grandstaff out of a group of people. He had always heard of him but now after meeting him and listening to how much passion and love he had for Coach Bell, Watts said that they were brothers from another mother. Coach Newton said something similar. “Coach Grandstaff is to Checotah what coach Bell is to Eufaula and we love coach Grandstaff too.”

These were men that opposed each other on the gridiron but found themselves bonded by friendship of another man, Coach Bell. To have listened on how the Selmon family got indoor pluming because coach Bell installed it, of how Rusty Griffis was nurtured by coach Bell, how Noah Palmer was recruited by Colorado State and how Bell’s grandson was impacted by him and that he will continue to teach those lessons that his grandfather taught him. They told of how he gave coach Newton’s

They told of how he gave coach Newton’s bride away at the wedding. This man was instrumental in so many people’s lives and the love he had for Eufaula, his community. He may have never won a high school state championship, but he won the hearts and minds of those that he touched.

1-2-3 break.