Bell, William Wilson, 88, since 1926 a co-owner with his son, Rex, of the Three B. Company, outdoor advertising plant and a wholesale supply business, the Chemicals and Materials Corporation, Terre Haute, Ind., firms, May 15 in that city. Bell entered business in 1888 in Pittsburg, Kan., where he owned and managed a chain of theatrical companies. He was founder and first president of the Theatrical Manager’s Association, which he organized in Kansas City and later moved to New York. In 1917 he was elected mayor of Pittsburg. As a pioneer outdoor advertising man Bell helped organize the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, and was elected its executive secretary in 1918, a post he fill for more than eight years in Chicago. He was also well known as an artist, his paintings having won numerous awards. Bell was a member of the Elks Lodge, Pittsburg, and past president of the Rotary Club, Terre Haute. Survived by his widow, Barbara; his son; a daughter, Mrs. Daphine Baxter and four grandchildren. The Billboard, Final Curtain section May 30, 1953, pg 54

1870 Federal Census: Friends Creek, Macon Co., IL
1880 Federal Census: Denton Co., TX
1895 KS State Census: Pittsburg, Crawford Co., KS
1900 Federal State Census: Pittsburg, Crawford Co., KS
1905 KS State Census: Pittsburg, Crawford Co., KS
1910 Federal Census: Baker Twp., Crawford Co., KS
1915 KS State Census: Baker Twp., Crawford Co., KS
1920 Federal Census: Chicago, Ward 25, Cook Co., IL
1930 Federal Census: Honey Creek, Vigo Co., IN

W. W. Bell, Former Mayor, Dead at 89; Succumbs at Terre Haute Where He Had Lived for Many Years. Death Friday Follows Cerebral Hemorrhage Suffered Wednesday; Funeral to be in Pittsburg Monday, Pittsburg Headlight; Sat. May 16, 1953

W. W. bell, former mayor of Pittsburg and a colorful figure in the theatre business here about the turn of the century and for several years following, died yesterday morning [May 15, 1953] at his home in Terre Haute, Ind., where he had lived more than 30 years. Mr. Bell was 89 years of age. Stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage shortly after 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Bellís condition worsened, resulting in death about 11:30 oíclock yesterday morning. A daughter, Mrs. Floyd Baxter of Pittsburg, was in Terre Haute, being called there when her father was stricken. To Return Body. The body is being returned to Pittsburg and will arrive here about noon Sunday. Funeral Services have been planned for 3 o'clock Monday afternoon at the Smith chapel. Burial will be in Mt Olive Cemetery. Mrs. William R. Hamilton of Weir will read the service. Mrs. Lavon Graham Holden will sing accompanied by Mrs. S. E. Cayton. In addition to Mrs. Baxter, Mr. Bell is survived by the widow, Mrs. Barbara Lawler Bell and a son, W. Rex Bell of Terre Haute. During later years of his life, Mr. Bell had followed his original plan, that of painting. He presented one of his paintings to the Pittsburg Public Library and another to the Pittsburg Elks lodge, of which he was a charter member. Painting Indian scenes, he had gained considerable recognition in recent years. Originally, friends here recalled he had wanted to be an artist, but his hopes were interrupted by his success in the entertainment business. Started Airdome. It was Mr. Bell who is credited with starting a novelty in the entertainment business, that of an airdome or outdoor theater. When Mr. Bell moved to Pittsburg in the spring of 1889, he had recalled on one of his periodic visits here, there was a half-mile horse racing track that had just been built in what was called Forest Park, located on West Fourth, almost due south from the Hull & Dillon Packing Company plant. It was a little dilapidated within a comparatively short time and used little. Mr. Bell obtained on a lease on the property and made repairs. He built a platform on wheels and with a roof. This was pulled in front of the grandstand where members of a stock company performed. On days there were horse races, the mobile stage was shunted aside. Opera House Manager. Mr. Bell at one time was manager of the city's opera house occupying a site where the National Bank building stands today. One of the finer earlier day theatres in Pittsburg was the La Belle theatre erected at Fourth and Locust. it was a 3-story structure with a seating capacity of 1,500. The building was built in 1904 by a corporation which Mr. Bell headed. The theatre was too elaborate for Pittsburg of that day and was not successful. He built an uptown open air theatre at Ninth and Broadway about 1907. It was with this opening that Mr. Bell coined the word "airdome," a term that was to later become common. After selling his theatres, Mr. Bell†was engaged in theatre advertising. He served Pittsburg as mayor in 1917 and 1918, but resigned his post because his business took him to Chicago. After a few years he went to Terre Haute, where he had been since that time. Despite the many years of residence in Indiana, Mr. Bell continued his interest Pittsburg and Pittsburgers, keeping the association alive through frequent visits with his daughter here. He made a trip here in May of 1951 particularly to be in Pittsburg for the city's diamond jubilee. He was here again last summer.''W. W. Bell Funeral Today. Services for Former Mayor With Burial at Mt. Olive, Pittsburg Headlight, Mon., May 18, 1953"

Funeral services for W. W. Bell, former mayor of Pittsburg and theatre business man who died Friday in Terre Haute, Ind., were held this afternoon at the Smith chapel. Mrs. William R. Hamilton of Weir officiated at the rites. Mrs. Lavon Graham Holden sang accompanied by Mrs. S. E. Cayton. Interment was in Mt. Olive cemetery. Serving as active pallbearers were three members of the fire department and three members of the police force. They included William Scott, George McClaskey and Paul Ahrens, of the fire department and Earl Kennett, Wallace McDaniel and Joe Farley of the police force. Acting as honorary pallbearers were 'Tom McNally, Clint Rankin, Bill Messinger, Jack Lindberg, Frank Clayton, Gus Tessmer, Berl Meade, Billy McCormick, Sam Holden, Jack Nesch, F. W. Brinkeroff, J. N. Patmor, T. F. Cole, Bert Maxwell, Tom Howe and Antone Melette.

Wild W. Bell, 88, Prominent T. H. Citizen Dies. Wils W. Bell, 88 years old, died at 11:10 o’clock Friday morning at his residence, 1 Jackson boulevard. Prior to his retirement three years ago he had served as vice president and treasurer of the Three-B Company and of the Poster Parts Company, both of this city. He was a member of the Christian Science Church, a past president of the Terre Haute Rotary Club and a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and Terre Haute Lodge 86, B. P. O. Elks. Born in southern Illinois, he later moved to Texas and in 1888 was elected mayor of Pittsburg, Kan., where he spent several years. He had been a resident of Terre Haute since 1926. Following his retirement he devoted most of his time to his hobby of painting. He has had paintings displayed in more than 26 are galleries located in various parts of the country. He and Mrs. Bell observed their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary in June of last year. Surviving are the wide, Barbara; a son, Rex; a daughter, Mrs. Daphne Baxter, Pittsburg, Kan.; two sisters, Mrs. Mathilda Hudson, Houston, Tex., and Mrs. J. Haines, Minneapolis; four grandchildren, including Rex Bell, Jr., of this city, and eight great-grandchildren. The body was taken to the Gillis Memory Chapel were friends may call from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The body will be taken to the Smith Mortuary at Pittsburg, Kan., for final services and burial there. - The Terre Haute Tribune. Terre Haute, Indiana, 15 May 1953, pg1.