Bob Bell’s 50 year sportscasting career in the state of Tennessee began as a DJ at WDXE radio on Lawrenceburg, where Bob got his first taste of play by play booth calling local high school games. He took the same position at WSIX radio in Nashville and then made the leap to television at what is now known as WKRN, for a 30 year span of bringing sports into Nashville area homes. It was during this time Bob began his lifelong association with college sports, calling Vanderbilt basketball and football replays, and received professional recognition with the United Press Sportscast of the Year and Tennessee Sportscaster of the Year awards.
The late 1980s brought a switch for Bob back to radio where he revolutionized the call in talk show, allowing fans all over the globe to truly become a part of the action. After the Sports Scene, Bob stayed with radio doing Big Orange Sunday with Doug Matthews, before a final stop at ESPN radio in Nashville for what proved to be one of his favorite jobs, a daily sports talk show with Boots Donnelly and Tracy Harris. During his radio tenure Bob also spent many a weekend in Knoxville, calling football games for University of Tennessee. Bob really enjoyed teaming with some of his favorite former Vols in Condredge Holloway, Andy Kelly, and Terrence Cleveland to bring Volunteer football into homes all over the south.
During his retirement Bob’s voice could still be heard on radio stations from Seattle to Birmingham (occasionally reporting from his vegetable garden,) because he was known as the definitive word on sports in Tennessee. Bob Bell spent a career conveying fairness and respect for all athletes and schools while bringing those indelible moments home to lovers of sport across the great state of Tennessee.