Company History

The year was 1924 when Ovid Bell sought his first contract to print a periodical, The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. His business was evolving from a daily newspaper to more and more job printing, and despite a distinguished career as a newspaper man, he saw that a small town of 6,000 could not support two daily newspapers. So in January, 1927, he sold the paper and opened shop as The Ovid Bell Press, printer of magazines, books and law briefs.

In his letter to the Missouri State Medical Association, our founder promised personal attention as the foundation of a good business relationship. Excellent service, then and now, is fundamental to the success of the company as the third generation of the Bell family charts the path to the future.

John O. Bell, the founder’s grandson, says, “I quickly recognized the value of my father’s and grandfather’s training. More important, I found that they had left me a wonderful set of tools to work with: a good name, a number of loyal customers, a group of conscientious workers and, for its size, an unusually good printing plant.”