C.R. “Bob” Bell, vice president for business and community development at UNeMed Corp. and former president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, has been named 2003 Honorary Chairman of the Omaha Classic.
“We are very excited to have Bob as our Honorary Chairman. Bob’s leadership, business experience and relationships in the community are a tremendous asset to the tournament,” Tournament Chairman Nick Kelley said.
Bell, a native of Baltimore, Md., is a retired U.S. Navy admiral of 35 years. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis in 1953. During his years in the Navy, Bell served in the United States and Europe. He was an expert in the area of nuclear submarines. Bell arrived in Omaha when he was named vice director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt Air Force Base. Bell joined the Chamber of Commerce in 1989 after his retirement from the Navy. Bell served as the Chamber’s president from 1989 to 2001.
As president of the Chamber, Bell played a key role in the development of downtown Omaha. His many accomplishments as Chamber president include starting the Target Omaha Campaign in 1994, establishing the Applied Information Management Institute, developing the Omaha Job Clearing House and organizing the Omaha Business Hall of Fame.
In April, Bell was inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame, which honors those men and women whose accomplishments in business have been significant to the growth and development of Omaha.
As honorary chairman, Bell will help promote the tournament as a community event, look for partnership opportunities for the tournament within the community and represent the tournament at special events, including Omaha Classic Media Day and check presentations to charities benefiting from the Omaha Classic.
“Bob has a passion for the tournament. He has helped us in the past with projects critical to our success. He is committed to helping us now and in the future to ensure that the Omaha Classic continues to be recognized as the premier tournament on the Nationwide Tour,” Kelley said.
The 2003 Omaha Classic, presented by Cox Communications, is Aug 4-10 at the Champions Club. The tournament attracts nearly 50,000 spectators and more than 1,000 volunteers each year, and has given more than $850,000 to local charities. It is the only nationally televised professional sporting event in the state of Nebraska.
For more information contact the tournament office at 399.1800 or visit the website at www.omahaclassic.com.