Steve Bell

Words can't express the moments I experienced at our reunion.

As we walked thu the halls of MHS, several of us remembered exactly where we were when we heard of the Kennedy assasination, I was in Walt Snodgrass band class, and the class ended then. It took the air out of us.

I was hesitant at first to get involved in the re union. I like to beat myself up over past mistakes. Bill Sever was the catalyst that got my interest. He asked me to write my story, and instead of giving the usual fluffy "I'm doing so great story", I wrote what was really going on. You see, I could easily not have made it to the 40th or been in a wheel chair----I truly see God's angels covering for me in that 25 foot fall.

I look forward in mid September of going to Dr. Anderson to see him about getting a ton of metal out of my foot---and then returning to do another marathon. I have 25 under my belt now.

Watching the courgage of Dave Engels come and participate in the re union. I pray for him. He has toughness. And for once I can look past my own selfish complaints. Yes I have gotten older. and my "updated photo" looks like my face caught on fire, and they put the fire out with a rake. just kidding.

As for Bill Sever; I saw him cloud up a bit, when he got a well deserved standing ovation. You see, Bill, you have given so much to us all. May God bless you. You got us together; this experience will live on. You see, those experiences of class of 64 meant something; indeed they are my roots. As Kathy Gale told me: its like a salmon returning to the same river to spawn (only I'm not coming here to die) I was so blessed by being there with all of you.

I continue my contracting efforts with my 3 house well under way (and one on the market for $66,000) as the smelterville slum lord. My son calls, it, Smellyville. After work, our crew stops at the river where we swim and get relief from the l00 degree weather.

Steve Bell

It's been a joy working with Bill Sever who has spent many hours putting the reunion website together. But, he ets all the fun, he's spoken with over 95 of us.

I reside in Coeur d'Alene where I raise my beloved son Shane, 14, as a single dad. Shane is a typical teen ager, in the last year I have gone from being very smart, to of marginal consequences in his eyes. My son is an old soul, he is very kind, has tons of girl friends, is an artist, plays, and drums, and skis with me.

What have I been up to? Click the camera () for pictures!

I'm a lawyer... I also work as a building contractor. Last year I remodeled for an estate sale. Ted Norgard's house on Alpowa in Moscow. I supervised the removal of his 55 foot yacht . Neighbors bet we could never get it out of the back yard . Yet, we did clear, with less than one inch clearance . Upon completion of his home, some of the old neighbors gathered at dusk to recall some memories.

I have found memories of the University Heights, and my companions Bill Junk, Rick Ross, Bob Ross, Robb Parish, Scott Walker, Bill Bailey (crank caller) and others. We played sand lot football, baseball, and cowboys and indians in the arboretum when it was safe to play there all day, and come home at dark. We didn't lock our houses then.

At the legal front I have been active in preserving the public area status of McEuen Ball fields, saving for public use the third street boat launch and saving Tubbs hill for public use... all the while fighting multi-millionaire Hagadone who wants it otherwise. (we are winning this battle as of today) I also participated in an effort to halt BN railroad from building a 1,000,000 gallon diesel fuel tank facility over our public water supply, (thus, future generations will have polluted water) at the Rathdrum aquifer... we were unsuccessful on this one.

On October 7, 2003, my life was changed significantly; I had contracted to do a very steep roof in Twin Lakes (12-12). I trusted a man named James who needed work and was just out of prison. He was to hold the ladder along the metal bracing I used on the roof. He didn't do his job, he let go, and his negligence caused me to tumble 25 feet off the roof.

As I lay in agony at the hospital with 5 fractures of my leg, the Lord told me to forgive the man who's negligence caused my fall... right then, I did.

Prior to surgery, I told Dr. Anderson, I have run 50,000 miles and competed in 22 marithons... I want to run again. Dr. Anderson couldn't even look at me, he said on a 1 - 10 severity scale, my fracture was a 9.8. And then he prayed for me.

After surgery, I went into respiratory arrest and nearly died. I vaguely remember my son's mom, Karen, taking my hand and saying, "Steve you can't let go now --- your son needs you.".

I was placed on a prayer chain at our church of 1500 people.

I was very humbled by my friends who stepped forward to help me after the hospital, meals kept coming to our house. Strangers told me their stories of their broken legs, and they gave me hope.

Dr. Anderson wondered if I would ever walk right again and he said I would certainly not run.

Eight weeks after that conversation, God answered my prayers, Dr. Anderson said my leg was healing perfectly and that I might be able to run marathons again. I will be, at least, a hear in to rehab and the credit goes to the Lord; I am a Christ follower.

When the temperatures were dipped to -20, I could feel those rods in my leg. Recovery is long and painful.

All I need is a window of hope, my goal is to race again. And to ski and hike again with my son. I had purchased back-packs for my son and I, four months before the accident. They gather dust in the closet and didn't get used, though we did go camping six times last summer. I hope to regain that opportunity to hike with Shane again.

Tom Davenport / The Spokesman-Review

After completing a leg-shattering dive from a roof he missed his regular "running routine".   Undaunted.. he borrowed a "Freedom Rider" hand-crank trike and found out that, even an older fella, can be competitive. He expects a full recovery.  (What was Steve doing on a roof anyway?)

I got into 3-wheel hand-cranked racing, with just four weeks of training after leaving the hospital. I finished the 26.2 mile Seattle Marathon on November 30, 2003.

The next weekend, I placed first over-all with 3000 other runners at the 26.2 mile marathon race in Tucson Arizona. My time was 1 hour 53 minutes and 25 seconds.

Shane and I headed to the January 25th, 2004 Las Vegas marathon. I finished the 26.2 miles in 2 hours 13 minutes & 30 seconds!

Raising Shane is my priority. I had a good teacher, my parents, George and Maruine Bell.

I am very active in my church, Lake City Community on Ramsey Road in Coeur d'Alene.. where I humbly serve as an usher and volunteer in projects such as summer camp counselor.

I am also honored and privileged to play the 6 and 12-string guitar at our worship team band at our church. It was our worship leaders, Todd Hornby and Rodney Wright that prayed over me at the hospital.

My reward playing guitar, was seeing some old faces light up, when our band did an all day tour of the nursing homes in Coeur d'Alene at Christmas. I also play at camp-outs, get togethers and funerals.

As the years go by, my friends mean more and more to me.

As for my 25 foot fall off the ladder, I have had time to ponder and realize that it was a miracle that I made it off that roof with just a broken leg. I could have landed on my head, been paralyzed, or worse. I believe God's angles guided me of the roof that day.

I look forward to seeing old friends at the reunion.