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Theodore Bell Sr. was born on August 14, 1923, in Waimea, to Alexander Bell Sr. and Antonia Bell.

Known affectionately as “Teddy,” he spent much of his childhood in Waikiʻi, a small ranching and farming community. His father, Alex, was the foreman at the Waikiʻi Station for Parker Ranch.

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Waikiʻi’s schoolhouse, a one-room building that taught grades 1 through 8, had around 15 to 20 students. This schoolhouse was a central hub in the village. Teddy himself planted the Norfolk Island Pine tree just makai of Saddle Road, near ‘Auwaiakeakua Gulch. The school closed in 1957 when the village and its families relocated to Waimea, and in 1963, it was moved to Waimea, where it became the First National Bank’s Kamuela branch.

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After finishing 8th grade, Teddy began working as a paniolo at

Parker Ranch in Waikiʻi, earning fifty cents a day. Teddy served

in the U.S. Army during World War II, stationed in the

Philippines, and was honorably discharged on January 17,

1947. He once said, “At the time of war, no one can tell me they

are not afraid. But you got a job to do, and you have to do it!”

This resolute attitude was part of what made Teddy special,

he was always willing to get the job done.

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During his time on Oahu, Teddy met Piʻilani Matsu, originally

from Hilo. They married on February 8, 1947, at Haili Church in

Hilo. Together, they had five children: two daughters—

Theo “Lani” and Theodora Piʻilani “Tootsie”—and three sons—

Theodore Jr. “Teddy,” Rodney Mahoe “Butch,” and

Keith Keaumiki “Jumbo.”

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Over the years, Teddy worked in various fields. After returning from the Army, he went back to Parker Ranch, then became a fireman at the Central Fire Station in downtown Hilo. He later returned to Parker Ranch, and eventually worked in construction. After some time in construction, Teddy returned to Parker Ranch, where he became the supervisor of the horse program and stayed there until his retirement in 1985. He oversaw a breeding program for over 2,000 horses, getting to know each animal personally. Teddy was a protégé of Yutaka Kimura, a legendary cattleman at Parker Ranch, learning invaluable skills in horse and cattle management and breeding.

Throughout his career, Teddy also established the 7B Ranch on his Hawaiian Homelands property in Waimea. The "7" symbolized the number of people in his family, and the "B" honored his last name. He also started a piggery, sending pigs to Kulana Foods in Hilo for processing each week. Four of his five children attended Kamehameha Schools in Kapalama on Oahu, returning home during summer breaks to help with the ranch and the piggery.

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In the 1960s, Teddy worked on the project that improved the route to the summit of Mauna Kea. Even after retirement, Teddy’s passion for ranching and horses remained. He continued cattle ranching at the 7B Ranch and volunteered his time to teach young people about horses and horseback riding. 

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Teddy also gave back to his community in various ways. He served as the Director of the Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders' Association, where he became the voice for his community. He and his wife Piʻilani played an active role in organizing the Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders’ horse riding unit, which participated in events like the Kamehameha Day Parade in Kona and the Aloha Week Festival parade in Waimea. He was also a member of the Parker Ranch Glee Club and held several positions within the Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club, where he helped bring about community improvements like streetlights, expanded access to Hawaiian Homelands, and road repairs.

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Teddy passed away on July 18, 2002, at the age of 78. Later that year, he was inducted into the Paniolo Hall of Fame, where his remarkable legacy as a true paniolo and expert rancher was honored.

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