Alumni Award Recipient

Award: 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award

Achievements: We will probably never know the exact extent of Dr. Jimmy Bell’s many achievements. As a foremost authority on nuclear energy with 31 years of employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN, much of his work has necessarily remained classified information. But even if part of his story remains untold, Jimmy is more than qualified for the 2011 Alumni Achievement Award. Known worldwide for his expertise in the field, Jimmy is CEO of Bell Consultants, a private consulting company founded after his retirement as head of the Chemical Development Section at ORNL. He currently works with national and international clients and consults with the Department of Energy and private environmental companies in projects relating to the nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear waste management technologies.
Among Jimmy’s many outstanding achievements is his work to clean up post-Cold War nuclear sites throughout the United States. He also played a role in U.S. efforts in the ’80’s to survey and evaluate Taiwanese nuclear programs.
He is also continuing international involvement in a team working to protect the Irish Sea from radioactive contamination deposited by a neighboring nation.
“Dr. Bell has made very important contributions in the international arena,” explains Raymond G. Wymer, retired Director of Chemical Technology, ORNL. “He has carried out highly classified and extremely important work on nuclear non-proliferation for the US Department of State and the Department of Energy. Details of this work, perhaps his most important, by its nature will never be made public.”
As a part of his work for the State of Nevada he works to ensure that no nuclear waste repository will be built at the proposed Yucca Mountain National High-Level Radioactive Waste Repository unless it’s proven to protect the health and safety of the citizens. “I cannot imagine an individual representing and bringing honor to Berry College in his professional career any better than Dr. Bell has done and continues to do,” says Charles J. Fitzpartick of Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Lawrence, PLLC, who is also involved with the project.
During his professional career Jimmy published more than 45 technical papers and reports in refereed journals and served for ten years as associate editor for the scientific journal Separation Science and Technology.
Jimmy has been married to Luci Hill Bell (60C) since 1961 and has been a member of the East Tennessee Alumni Chapter for 30 years. The couple has two adult children and three grandchildren. Jimmy is one of five siblings who graduated from Berry College.