April 8, 2005
Tech alumnus to talk about heading deep-sea dive
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue University College of Technology alumnus whose career has taken him from cardboard packaging to the bottom of the ocean will present the second installment of the Dean's Lecture Series on April 15.
|
John Lewis Bell, who holds a doctoral degree from the College of Technology, will present "Diving the USS Perry" from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. The talk will chronicle his efforts to lead a dive to the sunken USS Perry in the Pacific Ocean and the technology that made the dive possible.
The event is free and open to the public.
"Dr. Bell is a testament to the quality of students who are part of the College of Technology," said Dennis R. Depew, dean of the College of Technology. "His work in industry and other arenas demonstrates the importance of technology in all of its forms. His success in leading a dive to the USS Perry is just the latest in a string of accomplishments from which we can all learn lessons about the importance of knowledge and perseverance."
Bell's talk will focus on his experiences leading a dive team to the USS Perry and the filming of a documentary about that expedition. He also will talk about the sinking of the ship during World War II and tell the stories of its survivors.
The USS Perry sank off the coast of Palau in the Pacific Ocean after striking a Japanese mine on Sept. 13, 1944. Most sunken warships are at a depth that makes them inaccessible by scuba diving, but the USS Perry rests 270 feet below the ocean surface, making it possible – but difficult – to reach, Bell said.
Prior to Bell's expedition, the History Channel had attempted two unsuccessful dives to the ship, including one that ended in the drowning death of one crew member.
"We planned our dive, in part, around what had gone wrong during those first two dives, and that is part of what helped us succeed," Bell said. "We made the dive to honor the survivors of the sinking, as well as to pay tribute to those who died on the ship. The ship held 148 men, all of whom lived in unbelievable conditions and took on a very dangerous job. It was time to tell the story of these 'tin can sailors.'"
Bell said he hopes that the documentary will eventually air on a cable television network, helping to spread the story.
Bell earned his doctorate from Purdue in 1985 and spent 29 years as the CEO of Bell Packaging Corp. The corrugated box company, which has a manufacturing facility in Bell's hometown of Marion, Ind., saw annual profits grow from $15 million to more than $350 million during his tenure.
Bell also served as chairman of the board for American Bank from 1968 to 1982, and, in 1975, founded Bell Gallery of Photography, which focuses on multimedia presentations for industrial and commercial clients.
He was named a College of Technology distinguished alumnus in 2004.
Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu
Sources: Dennis R. Depew, (765) 494-2552 , ddepew@purdue.edu
Michael J. Dyrenfurth, lecture coordinator, (765) 496-1203, mdyrenfu@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Interviews can be arranged with John Lewis Bell before his talk by contacting Matt Holsapple, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu.
PHOTO CAPTION:
John Lewis Bell stands with underwater photography equipment during an expedition to explore the sunken USS Perry. Bell will speak at Purdue on April 15 as part of the College of Technology's Dean's Lecture Series. (Photo contributed)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2005/bell-john.jpg
To the News Service home page