Hugh H. Bell (now retired) received a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree, with a major in finance, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1963. He received a J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1966.
Mr. Bell served as an officer in the U.S. Army Finance Corps from 1966 to 1968. He started his practice with the firm of Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C., or its predecessors in 1968.
Since approximately 1970, Hugh Bell's practice was devoted almost exclusively to representation of public utilities, including telecommunications utilities, natural gas utilities, electric utilities and water utilities, and their affiliates. His practice has included extensive representation of public utility clients before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Michigan Public Service Commission. His representation of clients before those commissions included rate cases, tariff filings, securities issues, formation of holding companies, expansion of service territories, easements, customer complaints, and generic proceedings. Additionally, his practice included general corporate representation such as contracts, SEC registrations and filings, environmental issues, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, pension and employee benefit plans, and personnel issues.
Prior to their acquisition by other entities, Mr. Bell was a member of the Board of Directors and/or Corporate Secretary of several of his clients, including North-West Telecommunications, Inc. and its affiliates, Wisconsin Southern Gas Company, Wisconsin Fuel and Light Company, and Rhinelander Telecommunications, Inc.
Mr. Bell volunteers as a docent at the Chazen Museum of Art, Madison, Wisconsin, and as a wish granter with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. He also is a participant with the Madison Friends of International Students. His avocation is international travel, which he is now enjoying in his retirement.
Mr. Bell and his wife live in Madison, and have two children and two grandchildren.