George Bell, the former tallest man in America, has passed away at 67 years old. He stood at a height of 7 feet, 8 inches, and was described by people who knew him best as a "gentle giant."
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Norfolk Sheriff's Office announced his death on March 19 in a
Facebook post. "We are saddened to learn of the passing of former deputy George Bell," it read. "George was a valued member of the Norfolk Sheriff's Office from December 2000 - May 2014."George Bell, Tallest Man In America, Passes Away At 67
The post remembered Bell "for his kind and fun-loving personality" and someone always considered a member of the sheriff's office family. "Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to his friends and family during this difficult time."
Bell broke the world record for the tallest man in the United States in 2007, as reported by 13News. "Family members say Bell passed surrounded by loved ones at his home in Durham, North Carolina," said the reporter.
Native to Portsmouth, Virginia, Bell eventually found out he had a medical condition called gigantism. This caused his growth hormones to overproduce during his childhood, and he hit 5 feet, 4 inches at age nine, according to NBC.
The outlet also mentioned how he used to play basketball in college. Bell even played with the Harlem Wizards and Harlem Globetrotters. He stopped playing at around 30 when he lost interest and began pursuing a job in law enforcement.
When asked about how he felt about being so tall, Bell said he had "no choice but to like it." He had to get used to it. "I'm used to a small man's world," he added. "I've been dealing with a small man's world since I was a kid."
When Guinness began searching for the United States' tallest man in August 2007, Bell's ex-wife registered him online. Once a Guinness spokesman looked at Bell's doctor's documents of his height, they listed him as the tallest man in the country.
The stares from strangers weren't all too bad, though. Bell liked some of the perks of being incredibly tall. He mentioned getting free first-class upgrades on flights since he needed the legroom.
Still, there were plenty of challenges. In the AMC series Freakshow, Bell spoke about the downsides of his height. "There's a lot of challenges for us being so tall," he said. "Like how do I fit in cars, or where do I find clothes? I have a hard time sleeping in beds."
Bell is survived by his daughter Dawnie Bell and will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind soul.
