Home Histories

The house at 732 is a buff brick tapestry mingle with Spanish tile hipped roof. It is trimmed in white contrasting with the two-story ivy-covered chimney.

Edgar T. Bell 1930-58

Edgar T. Bell, a longtime resident of Oklahoma City, was both a publishing and television pioneer and "father" of KWTV. Born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 4, 1892, Bell was nationally famous for his skill in electronics and his acute business knkowledge. He moved to Oklahoma City in 1915 and soon began a thirty-three year relationship with Oklahoma Publishing Company and in 1925 became secretary-treasurer and business manager of the organization. He was one of those primarily responsible for the company's construction, acquisition and development of radio stations in Oklahoma City, Peoria, Denver, Colordao Springs, and San Antonio, and also television stations acquired by the firm.

He resigned from the Oklahoma Publishing Company in 1952 and later that year made application to the FCC for a license to operate Oklahoma City's second television station. KWTV went on the air December 20, 1953. He was its vice president and general manager until his retirement in 1968.

Bell and the station received many awards, including the Alfred P. Sloan award for safety, the Sigma Delta Chi award for news reporting, the Radio TV News Directors award for editorials and various public service awards from the government.

Bell was also well known for KWTV's 1,572 foot tower which he completed in 1954. For three years it was the tallest man-made structure in the world.

Mr. Bell was also very active in city affairs, having served at one time as director of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. He died in April of 1972.