William A. Bell, Sr.

Honorable William A. Bell, Sr. was sworn in for his second term on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 as the 33rd Mayor of the City of Birmingham. As the Mayor of the City of Birmingham, Mayor Bell has overseen more than a billion dollars in economic development for the City including a new entertainment district, new baseball stadium and the expansion of the Shuttlesworth International Airport.   Mayor Bell continues to carry the Birmingham story of resilience, reconciliation and transformation throughout the world by partnering with the United Nations Education, Science, Culture Organization (UNESCO) to have the city of Birmingham designated as a World Heritage Historic Site. This designation will not only bring great international honor to Birmingham, but will also bring millions of dollars in international tourism from visitors who want to learn more about Birmingham’s rich civil and human rights history. He has also represented the United States via the State Department at the United Nations Committee convening on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland to speak about Birmingham’s role in bringing dignity and honor to all people no matter their race, sex, or religion. Mayor Bell co-chairs the United States Conference of Mayors Committee on Human Rights and President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” Initiative. Mayor Bell has extensive professional experience in community and economic development in both the public and private sectors. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he received his Master's Degree in Psychology and Guidance Counseling. He also holds a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Miles Law School.   Mayor Bell is married to Dr. Sharon C. Bell, an administrator with the Birmingham City School System, and has two children: Judge William Anthony (Tony) Bell, Jr., and Jillian Bell, and two grandsons.