Pell, Wilbur F., 1915-2000

Wilbur F. Pell, Jr., a 1937 graduate of Indiana University and a 1940 graduate of Harvard University Law School, led a successful career in law. While a student at Indiana University, he held leadership positions in numerous areas, including editor of both IU's humor magazine, the Bored Walk, and of the university yearbook, the Arbutus. He also served as the manager of the University Theatre, and in 1936 was elected Grand Master of the Beta Theta Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Indiana University.

A native of Shelbyville, Indiana, Wilbur Pell, Jr. dedicated much of his life to the practice of law. Pell was born in December 1915 to Wilbur F. and Nelle A. Dickerson Pell. As a teenager he attended Shelbyville High School, later moving to Bloomington, Indiana, where he attended Indiana University. While at IU, Pell became head editor of the IU’s humor magazine the Bored Walk and of the university yearbook the Arbutus. He also served as manager of the University Theatre and was an active member in the Beta Theta Chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

After receiving his A.B. in history in 1937, Pell attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1940 cum laude. The same year, Pell married Mary Lane Chase on September 14. Pell returned to Shelbyville to join his father’s law firm. There was a brief interruption in his work from 1942 to 1945 when Pell worked as a Special Agent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Following his return to law, Pell became an active member in the local and state communities. He served on the board of directors of Shelbyville Community Chest (1947-1949), director of the Westminster Foundation at Indiana University (1947-1949), director and chairman of the Shelby National Bank (1947-1970), Director of Shelby County TB Association (1948-1965) and president of the same association from 1965 to 1966. Pell also participated in the Shelby County Fair Association (1951-1953), and acted as district governor (1952-1953) and as president (1959-1961) of the Chicago Rotary Club. He also acted as the district chairman of Boy Scouts of America (1956-1957), the Shelby County President (1957-1958), President of the Seventh Federal Circuit, Indianapolis (1962-1963), and as Chairman House of Delegates (1968-1969). In addition, Pell was also an active member in Blue Key, Alpha Phi Omega, Theta Alpha Phi, Tau Kappa Alpha, the American Bar Association, the Fellow American College of Probate Counsel, the American Bar Foundation, American Judicature Society and National Conference of Bar Presidents.

The recipient of many awards including honorary law degrees from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, John Marshall Law School, and Indiana University, Pell was honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash by Indiana governors Otis Bowen and Robert Orr. In 1973, he received the American Bar Association’s Judge Edward R. Finch Law Day U.S.A. Speech Award for the best Law Day speech in the United States.

From 1953-1955, Wilbur Pell served as Deputy Attorney General for Indiana. In late 1969, Pell was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to serve on the Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit. Pell was appointed for life by Nixon on May 11, 1970. Among his more noteworthy cases is the Chicago Seven Trial (1969-1970) for which he filed the only dissenting opinion. Over the years, Pell shared regular correspondence with various members of the judiciary including Supreme Court Justices Rehnquist, Burger, and Stevens. Additional correspondents include Alfred P. Murrah, Richard M. Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, Dan Quayle, and columnist Ann Landers.

Pell passed away at the age of 84 in September 2000.

(Biographical note written by staff at the Indiana University Law Library.)