From Alumni News, Spring 1999:

Madison Langley (Matt) Bell III, of Pensacola, Fla., died Oct. 15, 1998. He was elected in 1976 to the office of Tax Collector in Pensacola. During his tenure, he was honored locally, statewide, and nationally with numerous awards, certificates, and honors for his outstanding and dedicated service to the community and his work as an elected official. He was widely known for his reputation as tax collector because he had been with the office for many years and was devoted to serving the people.

He earned the national Meritorious Service Award from the President’s Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped for his efforts in providing gainful employment in his office for handicapped citizens. He was also active in the YMCA as a member of the board of directors; March of DImes as campaign chairman; board of directors for the Crippled Children’s Home, March of Dimes, Lakeview Center, and Speech and Hearing Board at Baptist Hospital, to name a few of his community involvements.

He is survived by his wife, Christine F. Bell, 302 Polk Ave. Pensacola, Fla., 32507-3759; a daughter; a son; his parents; two brothers; two sisters; eight nephews; two nieces; and an uncle.