About Ernie Kell
Lived 1928 – 2017 (aged 88). Ernie Kell was an American politician.
Ernest Eugene Kell Jr. (July 5, 1928 – April 29, 2017) served as mayor of Long Beach, California from 1984 to 1994, and as a city councilor for 13 years.
Life and career
Kell was born into modest circumstances on a farm in Washburn, North Dakota. His family moved to Wilmington during the Great Depression, where he would graduate from Phineas Banning High School. He received an associate degree from Long Beach City College, and attended California State University, Long Beach.
Kell was a United States Merchant Marine, and also United States Army veteran of the Korean War. In 1973, he married his wife Jackie, herself a Long Beach city councilor from 1998 to 2006. Kell died from cancer at his home in the El Dorado Park neighborhood of Long Beach. He was 88.
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Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ernie Kell's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ernie Kell?
American mayor (1928-2017)
When was Ernie Kell born?
Ernie Kell was born on 5 July 1928 in Burleigh County.
When did Ernie Kell die?
Ernie Kell died on 29 April 2017 in Long Beach.
What was Ernie Kell's occupation?
Ernie Kell was a politician.
What nationality was Ernie Kell?
Ernie Kell was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ernie Kell. https://biography.guide/ernie-kell/
MLA: "Ernie Kell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ernie-kell/.
Chicago: "Ernie Kell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ernie-kell/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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