Bobby Ray Tell remembered as fun spirit

Bobby Ray Tell, a former Louisiana Tech Bulldog and one of the best athletes from the state of Louisiana, died unexpectedly at the age of 46 on Wednesday from an undisclosed medical emergency.

The Haynesville native carried a big legacy in north Louisiana as one of the best running backs to ever compete in the region – winning three state championships at Haynesville High School (1993, 1994, 1995) before taking his talents to Tech and the high- powered offense of the days of Tim Rattay and Troy Edwards from 1996-99 and amassing 2,981 scrimmage yards and 25 touchdowns.

But for as powerful and productive of an athlete as he was in his day, his family and former teammates remember him as a man who could light up a room with his spirit.

“He loved fun, and really that whole family when they got together were just a bunch of clowns,” Courtney Tell, Bobby’s sister-in-law said. “There was never a dull moment with them. They always kept us laughing and he was always a fun person to be with. He was the baby of the bunch and so everybody took care of him.”

Courtney said Bobby’s down-to-earth nature made him easy to get along with and made her transition into the family easier than most.

Even with her daughters, including current GSU track athlete Marissa Tell, Courtney said Bobby built personal relationships and showed that he cared.

“Because of his fun-loving nature and he loved everything about sports, he had a very close relationship with my girls,” Courtney said.

John Simon Jr., Tell’s teammate at Tech from 1998- 99, said there was a never a sense of rivalry or separation in the running back room when he arrived on campus and met the established tailback.

All he remembers was the spirit he carried with him in and out of the locker room – a presence that invited everyone to feel welcomed.

“He was a great, spirited teammate,” Simon said. “He always showed up with a smile on his face everyday – cracking jokes and had fun with his teammates. From the moment I got there, he was open arms, and you could talk to anyone on that team and he was one of those guys that was bright and loved everyone.”

Simon was on the sideline to witness Tell’s 84- yard touchdown run against Louisiana-Lafayette — still the third- longest run in school history — on Oct. 2, 1999. It was the biggest jolt in what was a historic day for Tell, who led Tech to a 41-31 win over ULL with 264 rushing yards.

But on that day, and the games that followed, Simon said Tell never became focused on his snap count or explosive plays in each game. It was always about giving everything he had.

“He was never a guy that complained about how much he got the ball,” Simon said. “He just gave everything he had when his number was called. His performance that day was unbelievable, but his effort was unbelievable every day.”

Funeral arrangements are set for Thursday, January 4, at Haynesville Jr/Sr High Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. Services are entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home, Homer, La, where flowers and memorials can be sent. Burial will be at Bethel Missionary Baptist Cemetery. Repast will be held at the Haynesville Community Center (formerly AARP) near the Red Franklin Memorial Stadium.