Henry Bell is a fifth generation Tyler-ite on both sides of his family. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Finance and Marketing. He also graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU and the Institute of Organizational Management at SMU. Bell received his Certified Chamber Executive from the American Chamber Executives Association and is past Chairman of the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives. He is a graduate of Leadership Tyler Class 17.

He worked for 14 years with what is now Regions Bank in Tyler and has been with the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce for 30 years where he is currently Chief Operating Officer. He has added responsibilities for the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau and SPORTyler.

He has been involved in the Tyler community including serving as the past President/Chairman of the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Chamber Professionals of East Texas, Mental Health Association, UT-Tyler Patriots, All Saints Episcopal School, United Way of Smith County, Tyler Sister Cities, Texas Rose Festival, Discovery Science Place, The UT Pharmacy School Advisory Board and The Rotary Club of Tyler. He is currently on the boards of Champions for Children and Samaritan Counseling of East Texas.

Bell received the Arthur Leverett Jaycee Award in 1984, the W.C Windsor Award in 1985 and the Heart of Tyler Brick award in 1997. He also received the 2003 Marvin Hurley Award for recognition of an exceptional career in the chamber of commerce profession. He is a past recipient of the Leadership Tyler and Tyler ISD Distinguished Alumni Awards.
He and his family are long time members of Christ Episcopal Church.