An extraordinary thing happened on the way to organizing Bell Flavors & Fragrances’ (BF&F) centennial celebration. During the one-and-a-half years devoted to researching, filming and planning an anniversary program book, a short historical video and a full-blown, no-holds barred dinner banquet, Jim Heinz, co-president and ceo of the Northbrook, Ill.-based company, discovered founder William Bell’s extraordinary Pilot.

Upon hearing of the search for all things related to BF&F’s history, Laura Christian, one of the company’s national accounts managers, presented Heinz with a copy of The Pilot, Candy, Ice Cream and Soda Fountain Formulations, authored by Bell himself.