Raymond graduated from UCLA in 1978 in the College of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Major in Motion Picture Television, after having a stellar football career for the Bruins. The Berkeley, California native lettered 3-years, earning various awards and honors on the field including starting at linebacker for the 1975 team that upset the undefeated top ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the 1976 Rose Bowl.
He later put his degree to good use by breaking into the Los Angeles television industry in 1982 as a sports intern at KTLA Channel 5. The non paying job soon became a paying one. While there, Bell developed his skills in covering sports and television news. Raymond eventually moved up the ladder from production assistant to become one of the stations sports producers. In 1991 he got a chance to cover one of the biggest announcements in all of sports, when former Lakers great Magic Johnson told the world he was HIV Positive.
In 1992 Bell got an opportunity to take on bigger challenges in one of the top television markets in the country when he agreed to become a sports producer at KTTV Fox Channel 11. At Fox, Raymond became one of the stations outstanding field producers of live sporting events, coordinating the station’s live pre-game and post-game coverage for Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, Kings, Ducks, UCLA and USC football. His resume includes four Lakers NBA Championships, Angels MLB World Series Championship and the Ducks NHL Championship.
Ten years later in 2002 Raymond brokered a deal with Fox Sports International for a ten episode sports entertainment show called “Inside Pitch” that he independently produced and developed. The show featured such stars as two time Academy Award Nominees Will Smith and Sylvester Stallone, pop singer Jessica Simpson and NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal.
Another key career highlight came in 2006 when he served as a key organizer in putting together the 30-year reunion for the 1976 UCLA Rose Bowl Championship team led by legendary coach Dick Vermeil. In addition, Bell produced a two-part DVD memorializing the teams championship season.
In 2010 he received Television’s highest honor when he won an Emmy Award for Producer of Best Sports Reporting for KTTV Fox Channel 11.
Four years later in 2014 Raymond won his 2nd Emmy Award for Producer Light News – Single Story “Justin Carr Story for KCBS2.” In 2015 Bell won a Los Angeles Press Club Award for Producer for Best Sports Feature for Television – “David Kopay NFL Secret“.
In 2018, Ray was nominated for three Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Awards. He received the following recognition for two of them.
Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Award (2nd Place) Producer/Sports – Television/Film “From Devastation to Defensive Line”
Jun 2018, Los Angeles Press Club
Tells how Kenny Clark, a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, and his family had to cope with his father being put in prison for murder while he was growing up.
Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Award (2nd Place) Producer/Entertainment Personality Profile/Interview -Television/Film “Misty Copeland”
Jun 2018, Los Angeles Press Club
Misty Copeland tells her story about going from living in a motel as a child with her siblings and mom to becoming the first African-American principal dancer in the 75-year history of American Ballet Theater.
Beverly Robinson Performance Arts Award
Mar 2018, UCLA Black Alumni Association/Winston C. Doby Legacy Scholarship 2018 Awards Dinner
Honored for working over 35-years in Television, being a Co-Producer of the play Ghost in the House, the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson and as a filmmaker, including as the executive producer for current documentary project CALLED UP: The Emmett Ashford Story about the first African-American umpire in Major League Baseball.
Bell has spent over 35 years in the television business. This former Bruin continues to wear many hats including serving as Coordinating-Producer for documentary FAIR LEGISLATION: The Byron Rumford Story, Co-Producer of the play about the life and times of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson entitled “Ghost in the House” and Executive Producer for documentary “CALLED UP” The Emmett Ashford Story.
From 2012-14 Bell served as a member of UCLA’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee. He is also actively involved in one of his favorite non-profit charity organizations “We Are Our Brothers Keeper” which annually feeds the homeless in LA’s downtown skid row area. The Bruin alum resides in the San Gabriel Valley.
