Austin Peay State University Athletics

A native of Humphries County, Homer Bell became a part of Austin Peay’s football program after playing just one season of high school athletics and spending two years in the Navy. He came to APSU in 1946 on the GI Bill and went out for football as a defensive end (1948-49). He was selected team co-captain (along with Hendricks Fox) of the 1949 club. The Govs posted 5-4, 3-6-1, 8-2 and 8-2 records during Bell’s career under David Aaron. He considers the Govs 1948 20-6 victory against Fort Campbell a career highlight as well as playing in the Peanut Bowl. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from APSU in 1950 and attained his master’s in health and physical education from Peabody College that same year. He returned to Humphries County as boys’ basketball and football coach in the fall of 1950 at Waverly High School. He coached for eight years, and after an initial losing season, led his Waverly teams to winning seasons each succeeding year. His 1955 team went undefeated and played in the Rotary Bowl. In 1957, he was selected to finish a term as Humphries County superintendent and held the post for nine years. From 1966-70, he served as coordinator of Title I, a federal government project for the school district. During his tenure at Waverly, Bell also served as a part-time insurance agent with State Farm. In January 1971, he became agency manager for nine counties. He has been with the firm ever since. He is married to the former Betty Bush of Clarksville. He has four children, Ann Gilbreath, David, John, and Jane.