Bob Bell

Cave Creek

Executive Editor at True West Magazine

Bob Boze Bell

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Articles

Mountain Meadows Scapegoat John D. Lee VS. A Firing Squad

2 weeks ago | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell |Classic Gunfights

“Center My Heart Boys!!”March 28, 1877The execution of John D. Lee was supposed to be a secret, but as Marshal William Nelson and U.S. Attorney Sumner Howard loaded their prisoner into a closed carriage and drove south from the jail at Beaver, Utah, at least 20 citizens followed the carriage because Howard had alerted the press.
"Brazen Bill" Shot to Blazes

2 months ago | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell |Classic Gunfights

Alone highwayman, masked in muslin, robs a stage en route from Tucson to Florence, Arizona, carrying three passengers, including Arizona Citizen editor John Clum. He robs the stage of about $60 when it reaches Point of Mountain (near present-day Marana). The victims report the robber gripped his weapons in a peculiar manner; he held his pistol against the barrel of his rifle, almost as if he were hedging his bets should anyone creep up on him.
One Rude Dude!

Oct 17, 2024 | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell |Classic Gunfights

Against overwhelming odds Rude reloads with deadly efficiency. Map by Tom Jonas. Based on the research of Greg Scott. July 14, 1861An American ranchero named Billy Rude, along with a Mexican vaquero named Felix, are riding from Tubac, Arizona to retrieve some horses which Rude had left on his abandoned farm, after a series of very aggressive Apache raids. The farm is about 18 miles from Tubac, on the road to Tucson.
Walk Where They Walked

Oct 14, 2024 | l8r.it | Bob Bell

In this issue of True West we are launching a new history campaign—actually more of a crusade—to Walk Where They Walked. We are going to encourage you and everyone you know to get out and experience history firsthand, by seeking out the actual ground where history happened. You will be amazed at what you pick up when you simply walk where they walked. So get ready to experience history on a whole new level. For example, to better understand what actually happened to Willie B.
Walk Where They Walked

Oct 14, 2024 | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell

In this issue of True West we are launching a new history campaign—actually more of a crusade—to Walk Where They Walked. We are going to encourage you and everyone you know to get out and experience history firsthand, by seeking out the actual ground where history happened. You will be amazed at what you pick up when you simply walk where they walked. So get ready to experience history on a whole new level. For example, to better understand what actually happened to Willie B.
Killer Kids of the Civil War

Aug 12, 2024 | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell

Close to a half million boys under the age of 18 were involved in both the Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. Some historians believe as many as 100,000 Union soldiers were 15 years of age or younger. Although statistics are not available for the rebel forces, it is believed the South had a similar proportion of underage soldiers.
Our Big, Fat History Problem

Aug 12, 2024 | l8r.it | Bob Bell

Apparently, nobody wants to face the facts, but I do. Here’s a cold, hard fact: Interest in American history has never been lower. Schools are afraid to even teach it, and when they do it’s mostly dry facts and dates. Or, worse—political concepts!On the other hand, this is a magazine I have been reading since the mid-50s. I have always loved the great stories of bravery and drama in our shared history. My original partner, the late, great Bob McCubbin, was a charter subscriber in 1953.
Our Big, Fat History Problem

Aug 12, 2024 | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell

Apparently, nobody wants to face the facts, but I do. Here’s a cold, hard fact: Interest in American history has never been lower. Schools are afraid to even teach it, and when they do it’s mostly dry facts and dates. Or, worse—political concepts!On the other hand, this is a magazine I have been reading since the mid-50s. I have always loved the great stories of bravery and drama in our shared history. My original partner, the late, great Bob McCubbin, was a charter subscriber in 1953.
What's Up, Doc?

Jun 11, 2024 | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell

In this issue you will discover, just like I did, how wonderful it is when local historians dig deep into their local history. For a long time there have been several mysteries about Doc Holliday’s travels between late 1879 and 1880 before he eventually arrived in Tombstone, and now we have a better view of this time thanks to Brad Courtney.
Thanks to Al Harper Billy the Kid Has His Day at Old Tucson

Mar 21, 2024 | truewestmagazine.com | Bob Bell

Last weekend we had a great celebration at Old Tucson when we presented our True Westerner Award to Al Harper in the Grand Hotel Saloon. Not only has Al Harper saved multiple historic railroads with his American Heritage Railways company, he recently took on the role of saving Old Tucson which had not only fallen on hard times, but when the pandemic hit, sat vacant for two whole years, while the Sonoran Desert reclaimed more than a few of the buildings.