For more than 50 years after he played his last football game for the University of Minnesota in 1962, through an NFL Hall of Fame career with the Chiefs and a full, rich life after, Bobby Bell felt an emptiness from one thing he lacked: a college degree that would fulfill a promise to his late father.
On Thursday, though, Bell flew with family and friends from Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport to Minnesota to celebrate commencement at the school where he became a two-time All-American and Outland Trophy winner.
After resolving last winter that he could wait no longer, Bell contacted the university and asked for help determining what he lacked.