Mayor Bill Bell (2001-2017)
William V. “Bill” Bell, born in Washington DC, grew up in Winston-Salem; NC having attended and graduated (1957) from the then segregated Winston-Salem public schools.
William V. “Bill” Bell
Short Biography
William V. “Bill” Bell, born in Washington DC, grew up in Winston-Salem; NC having attended and graduated (1957) from the then segregated Winston-Salem public schools.
Bill and his family moved to Durham, NC in 1968 to accept a position as an Electrical
Engineer with the IBM Corporation,
He stepped into Durham NC politics over forty (48) years ago, wanting to maximize Durham’s economy, education and other resources, believing that government best serves citizens by partnering with them and the private sector.
Bell a retired IBM Senior Engineer (1996), served as an elected Durham County Commissioner for 26 years (1972 – 1994; 1996 – 2000) and Chairman of the Durham Board of County Commissioners for 12 years (1982 - 1994).
He was elected Mayor in 2001. Re-elected to his 8th consecutive two (2) year term in November 2015, he was Durham North Carolina’s longest serving Mayor, having chosen not to seek re-election in 2017.
He and his wife (Judith) are the parents of four (4) adult children and (6) grandchildren.
William V. “Bill” Bell
Short Biography
William V. “Bill” Bell, born in Washington DC, grew up in Winston-Salem; NC having attended and graduated (1957) from the then segregated Winston-Salem public schools.
Bill and his family moved to Durham, NC in 1968 to accept a position as an Electrical
Engineer with the IBM Corporation,
He stepped into Durham NC politics over forty (48) years ago, wanting to maximize Durham’s economy, education and other resources, believing that government best serves citizens by partnering with them and the private sector.
Bell a retired IBM Senior Engineer (1996), served as an elected Durham County Commissioner for 26 years (1972 – 1994; 1996 – 2000) and Chairman of the Durham Board of County Commissioners for 12 years (1982 - 1994).
He was elected Mayor in 2001. Re-elected to his 8th consecutive two (2) year term in November 2015, he was Durham North Carolina’s longest serving Mayor, having chosen not to seek re-election in 2017.
- Graduate of Howard University (B.S./Electrical Engineering) and New York University (M.S./Electrical Engineering).
- Awarded Honorary Degree from Duke University at May 2018 Commencement
- Former 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
- Presently Executive Vice-President/COO UDI/Community Development Corporation.
- Presently Chairman Board of Directors North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR)
- Presently Member of North Carolina Central University Board of Trustees
- Presently Member of Mechanics & Farmers Bank Durham City Advisory Board
- Past Member of Mechanics & Farmers Board of Directors and Past Chairman of Mutual Community Savings Bank (Prior to merger with Mechanics & Farmers Bank)
- Past Member and past Chairman of GoTriangle (formerly named TTA), the regional transportation Authority for the counties of Durham, Orange and Wake.
- Past Member and past Chairman of the Durham-Chapel Hill – Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC-MPO).
- He has received numerous local, state and national awards and honors over the years.
He and his wife (Judith) are the parents of four (4) adult children and (6) grandchildren.