Our Team

Louis “Lou” was the Founder and first Executive Director of the Honor Bell Foundation. Lou was a former U.S. Army Ranger and was critically wounded during the 1989 invasion of Panama, where he received the Purple Heart Medal while spearheading the nighttime combat parachute jump into Rio Hato. As a United States Army retiree, he worked in the business and program management sector for nearly 25 years. As a U.S. Department of the Army civilian, he served for nearly half a decade as the deputy program manager for a multimillion-dollar technology program. Lou went on to build startups in the business management, marketing, and financial sectors. He was also a former Service Officer and Chaplin for the Department of Colorado, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and served as Senior-Vice Commander of Chapter 1041, Military Order of the Purple Heart. Lou graduated from the University of Colorado Master’s Program in Entrepreneurship.

In 2014, while a member of Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1041, Lou had a vision to forge an instrument that would be used to honor veterans at their passing. In June of that year, he created the Honor Bell Foundation. Leading a small but passionate team, he oversaw the creation of the country’s first bell designed specifically for that purpose. The Honor Bell was cast in May of 2016 and dedicated on Memorial Day at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Lou passed away on July 12, 2018. Lou’s service, kindness, generosity, and passion for supporting veterans touched many people and he will be incredibly missed. He leaves behind a loving wife and daughter, his nine siblings, countless friends, and fellow veterans. The mission of the Honor Bell will continue as his legacy.