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Former General Mills president Charles H. Bell dies at 95
Thursday April 17, 2003SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) Charles H. Bell, the son of General Mills founder James Ford Bell and a former company president, has died. He was 95.
Bell died Saturday in Santa Barbara after weeks of failing health.
Born in Minneapolis, Bell studied at Yale University before joining his family's company in 1930. He played a key role in shaping the early flour-milling days of General Mills, the Golden Valley, Minn.-based food maker.
During his 47 years at the company, he worked in accounting, auditing, sales, research and production.
Bell was president from 1952 to 1961; chairman of the board from 1961 to 1967; and chairman of the executive committee from 1962 to 1969.
While he oversaw the business, he expanded the company's holdings to include toys, clothing and retail. He retired in 1969, but remained on the board of directors until 1977.
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