Charles Chuck Campbell
When it comes to sports, you could say the “Chuck” Campbell was a man of all seasons; not only as a participant in a variety of activities, but he later was a spectator, promoter, coach, and sponsor for many aspiring young boys and girls.
In high school, Chuck earned multiple letters in football and basketball. As left end on a Rosy Starn-coached team in 1931, he was selected for the All-North central Ohio first team. In basketball, he played with the first Ashland High team to make it to the state finals in Columbus. Ashland won the sectional tourney at Sandusky, the regional at Findlay, and qualified as one of eight teams to make it to state.
Entering Miami University, Campbell continued his athletic career, switching to halfback in football and guard in basketball his freshman year. He later gave up basketball to concentrate on his first love, football, while keeping up his outstanding academic record to the School of Business. He was selected as a member of the honorary business fraternity and also served as president of Phi Delta Theta, his social fraternity.
In the summers he played on the Hess and Clark softball team in the “Y” industrial league.
After a nine-year stint on the road as a salesman for Hess and Clark in the eastern United States and Canada, Campbell tired of the travel and went into the insurance business in 1946. This was the start of a community-caring career that endured until his death in 1982. With five children, he was vitally interested in education and participating in physical activities for all boys and girls. He served as the Montgomery PTA president and also on the Montgomery School Board.
He led the campaign to raise funds for a needed school addition. A brief listing of other community efforts show Campbell as secretary and later co-chairman of the United Appeal fund and the committee to raise funds for the building of Community Stadium.
His involvement continued as vice-president of the board organizing the first Balloon Festival, chairman of the “Greater Service” committee to assist in the promotion of conservation farm practices, chairman of the Industrial Growth committee, and president of the Chamber of Commerce.
He was active in securing a new “Y” and served2 as president, past president of the Young Men’s Business Committee, a Red Cross board member, Cub Scouts committee chairman, and on the Trinity Lutheran Church Council. In his “spare time”, he was involved with the Charles Mill Yacht Club and Power Squadron and the Shrine committee for crippled children. In business, he was honored with the Third Life Award from the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
He took a personal interest in potential school drop-outs, encouraging the to stay in school, participate in sports, and talk out their problems.
Campbell was assisted and supported in his endeavors by his wife, Mary, and their five children: Sue Sale, Joan Jackson, and Jim of Ashland, Frankie Tutt of Colorado Springs, and Nancy Mielke of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Nominator: Susan Campbell Sale