Corey Bell-

In recent years “shell” has become a seemingly sobriquet lasting for Corey Bell. Although the term is a familiar part of the Standard English lexicon, “shell” has been transmitted and in the local argot means one who is extremely vehement about and /or successful at what he/she attempts. Those who know Corey Bell realize that there isn’t a more fitting epithet for the young man who personifies intensity and persistence.

Corey Lee Bell Jr. or “Shell Bell” is the second child and the only son of Corey Bell Senior and the Rev. Dr. Maglon Bell. He was born down on Tobacco Row at Dukes Medical Center in Durham, NC. In retrospect the coetaneous events of his birth and the release of blockbuster films Superman and Grease were a valid portent for what he would someday become. Unfortunately, his birth was preceded by his parents’ then recent divorce and his first trip home was to a house that had no father.

Corey Bell and his sister Angelica were raised under the resolve, care, and strict guidance of his mother in the Hope Valley North Neighborhood of South Eastern Durham. It was in the big red house on Suffolk Street where Maglon provided an environment that expunged shiftlessness and fostered courage and confidence in her only son. Paradoxically, Dr. Bell is a kind and sympathetic woman who is also known for her fervent, cocksure, and fastidious nature. Inherently, she encouraged pride and responsibility through the dictation of daily chores and by placing emphasis on school and church competence and attendance. Corey Bell never experienced the common childhood luxury of sliding scale evaluations. Maglon simply would neither permit his youth nor invalid circumstance to be the grounds for an inept nor sub par performance. Her high standards and expectations are often reflected when one looks at the many achievements that Corey Bell has attained.

Just months after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he has earned his barber license, signed a modeling contract, and opened two barber shops while deftly juggling the responsibilities of a College Division I wrestling coach. Although others are often astonished and view his accomplishments as extraordinary, Corey Bell maintains that his success is the modest product of a well designed blueprint.

His first year at Githens Middle School marked the gestation of his plan to become a collegiate student/athlete standout and business entrepreneur. As a seventh grader, he began to garner haircutting expertise by experimenting on his family and peers. That year he also began to wrestle, insisting that his thin and unsuspecting frame would one day capture the coveted high school state title.

He left Githens Middle School headed for Charles E. Jordan High School in 1992. It was in the classrooms and practice facilities that his blueprint truly began to fulfill it’s prophetic design. His peers at Jordan High School consistently profess that although he was well known and extremely well liked, he was relentless in his pursuit of self improvement and perfection. During his commencement on May of 1996 in Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, Corey Bell could reflect on his high school career and take pride in his perfect attendance, wrestling state title, and admission to UNC-Chapel Hill.

Becoming a wrestling Tarheel optimized the character of the adolescent juggernaut who knew nothing of ebbing at even the most thwarting obstacles. Unfortunately, what had previously been some of his most endearing qualities were acting as antagonist to his collegiate adjustment. Initially, Corey Bell was decided and ostracized for his uncompromising individualism and uncongenial social antics. It seemed that most of his peers were dejected by his ability to be true to himself during a stage where most students had a tremendous propensity for social conformity. While others compromised, Corey Bell maintained his vernacular, unique dress code, and a disdain for the Churchill approach of appeasement during courtship.

By his second semester resentment evolved into affinity. Instead of effigy and innuendo his name provoked approval and acclaim. His benevolence and devotion to athletic excellence became staples for any dialogue containing the phrase “Shell Bell.” In conjunction with sports Corey Bell became heavily involved in a motley collage of campus political and social organizations. He was a participant in everything from Ebony Readers and the Sankofa band to C-TOPS, Upper Quad Governor, Concepts of Colors (modeling troop) and Upward Bound. In all, Corey Bell was involved in over twenty-six activities, societies, and organizations.

Athletically, his ardent commitment to the dominance of Carolina wrestling was efflorescent. His ardor and dedication were reminiscent of Darth Vader such that it warranted the playing of the devoted Jedi’s empirical theme song each time Corey Bell graced the mat. Fans often witnessed how the John Williams score changed his innocuous continence into the focus of a belligerent sentry. He would become incandescent to the crowd noise and instinctively began his uniquely personalized warm-up including wind sprints and the skipping of a phantom speed rope as a prelude to an erratic shoulder stretch that seeming spelled a semaphoric “Victory.” Defensively, competitors were frequently provoked into dissonance as they vainly sought an Achilles heel in Corey Bell’s unorthodox style. Offensively, his tenacious grip and dexterous leg work made up the keystone of his grappling arsenal. The fortuitous few who were able to endure his offensive vanguard were met with a wrath of truculence precipitating imminent submission. Corey Bell performed one grapping vivisection after another until his thirst for domination was thoroughly satiated, by his career’s end he had accumulated 104 victories and became the first North Carolinian to attain four individual ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) titles.

Corey Bell graduated from UNC-CH in May 2001 with degrees in Communication Studies and African American Studies while maintaining perfect attendance. Two weeks later he enrolled in school at Harris Barber College. His acumen and once again perfect attendance allowed for his early departure from barber school and the beginnings of his entrepreneurship. Just two days after passing his NC State Board Barber exam, he and colleague Kevin Gilchrist combined their middle names and financial resources to create LeWayne's Barbershop.

Since April 10th 2002 the official opening of LeWayne's Barbershop, he has already earned the recognition as being the best barber on the east coast. He is youngest person ever to capture the “King of Kuts” barbering award held annually by Tim Johnson and Bronner Bros Inc. He intends on expanding his humble empire by opening another shop sometime in the near future. Unlike others who simply have plans and intentions, Corey Bell is a doer and has his accomplishments as the Hallmark of his ambition. For those who care about Corey Bell, the fastigiated nature of success is appreciated because it makes him easy to find

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