Jerry Bell, Volunteer Spotlight
Reprinted from 2008 Traditions Magazine: Quarter 4
Friends of NRA committee members are known to be some of the most hard-working and dedicated volunteers in the nation and Jerry Bell of Paris, Tenn. epitomizes what a Friends of NRA committee member is and more. In 2002, he single handedly sold over 380 tickets to the Henry County Friends of NRA banquet in Tennessee— this year, he sold 250. 
At the 2008 Tennessee State Fund Committee Conference in Nashville, Bell received special recognition for setting all time records for most banquet tickets ever sold by an individual. For his notable efforts and continual support of Friends of NRA, Bell was presented a plaque along with an Uberti 1873 Cattleman .45 Revolver Long Colt. Anyone will tell you that Bell doesn’t do it for the recognition though; his passion resides in the benefits that the proceeds yield for the entire community and cause.
Bell strongly believes in the Second Amendment rights and the youth shooting sports programs that are funded by the NRA Foundation through Friends of NRA banquets. His efforts have made a distinct difference on the county banquet’s results, including higher attendance rates and sponsorship sales resulting in higher net revenue for both the event and the state.
Bell has been married to his wife, Carol Jean, for 55 years and has resided in Henry County for the last 37 years, where he now enjoys working on his 438 acre farm. His long term connections and previous experience as a top salesman has undoubtedly attributed to Henry County Friends of NRA’s climb in ticket sales, but it is his relentless passion and enthusiasm for the cause throughout the years that is so contagious.
“He is well respected in the community and is known to stand up for gun owners and hunters in his area,” said NRA Tennessee Field Representative Mike Webb. “He wears his Friends of NRA hat wherever he goes and asks anyone he has contact with to purchase tickets with a positive attitude, he’s not afraid of the word ‘no’ and he’s a great people person.”
Bell is known for doing whatever it takes to sell tickets, Webb added, whether that be knocking on doors or hitting up local restaurants with tickets in hand. “He talks about the NRA everywhere he goes and carries membership applications with him,” said Webb. “If you tell him you’ll buy a ticket from him later, he never forgets that promise. He is an example and inspiration to the committee. For me, he is a very dedicated and outstanding volunteer.”
Next year, Webb says Bell wants to expand the size of the committee and sponsorship sales. In addition, he wants to implement the first pre-event firearm ticket sale in Henry County to help take the event to a higher level. And while many people make Henry County one of the state’s most successful events, Bell is undeniably one of the committee’s greatest determining factors.
A. Niblock Shorter