Don Bell ’80, aka Donnie, is no stranger to persevering through challenges. From August 29 to September 19, 2024, he embarked on his biggest one yet. Bell rode his bicycle from his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to The Southern most Point Buoy in Key West, Florida, to raise money for the Franklin College Touchdown Club. The club is dedicated to promoting excellence in the football program and has a membership that includes alumni, students, friends and parents.
Bell had previously ridden his bicycle from Indiana to Florida; however, this experience was different because it served as both a fundraiser and an act of love for his alma mater. “The College has given me much more than I could ever give in return,” he said. He credits Franklin College for blessing him with education, personal development and lifelong friends. The relationships he formed are still strong after 50 years, and he calls many of the individuals he attended college with his brothers and sisters.
Under the mentorship of the Grizzlies’ legendary head football coach Stewart “Red” Faught, now deceased, and assistant coaches John Chiarotti ’67, now deceased, and Bill Unsworth ’71, Bell said he developed mental toughness, flexibility and self-discipline. These qualities have stayed with him, and they became instrumental in helping him finish the 1,500-mile journey to Key West. Along with honoring the influential individuals in his past, Bell was motivated to pedal the long distance to inspire current student-athletes and show them that physical and mental strength do not have an expiration date. He also wanted to show that paying forward the benefits of one’s own experiences can be fulfilling and purposeful as was his aim in raising money for the Touchdown Club. He is grateful for all the alumni, friends and strangers who showed solidarity with his philanthropic pursuit.
During his bicycle adventure, Bell encountered several obstacles that required tenacity and strength to persevere. The Smoky Mountains and the Everglades proved to be particularly physically and mentally challenging areas due to their climate. Additionally, he had to repair eight flat tires over the course of his trip, and three of those repairs were made in the span of two days. Bell was frustrated by the setbacks, but he said, “Quitting wasn’t an option” and he “Couldn’t let anyone down.” Each day, he posted a reflection of his riding journey on Facebook, which became flooded with love and encouragement from family, friends, the Franklin College community and even strangers. The comments gave him further motivation to keep pedaling.
He pushed through each challenge by setting goals and reminding himself that he would meet his family at the finish line. On two separate occasions, Bell was called by present Franklin College football players, Zane Downing ’25 and Keegan O’Neill ’25, reminding him he was not alone in spirit. Bell said the conversations were inspirational and made him “pedal a little harder and a little faster.” Bell’s bicycle journey came full circle, beginning and ending with the Franklin College football team.
Just days before he set off on his journey in August, he visited the team to share his plans, receiving a memorable send-off as 120 players lined up to shake his hand. On October 26, he returned to campus and was honored with a Grizzlies’ jersey at halftime for raising more than $15,000 for the Touchdown Club. Downing shared, “His contribution means the world to the whole team. We understand that we can’t operate without the support of guys like Don. We are very blessed to have such great support in the Touchdown Club.”
Republished from the Franklin College Magazine
By Katie Thoman ’26, Pulliam Fellow