Obit of Campbell, Thomas Eugene "Tommy" - Stephens County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 18 Nov 2007 Return to Stephens County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/stephens/stephens.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Mariposa Gardens FH--Mesa AZ Campbell, Thomas Eugene "Tommy" Thomas Eugene "Tommy" Campbell, 80, of Mesa, AZ, passed away on May 30. 2007. Tommy Campbell was born March 14, 1927 in Fletcher, OK. He moved to Farmington, NM in 1934 with his father, Idris, his mother Wouida, his brother, Glenn and his sister Shirleen. A second brother, Larry completed the family in 1939. Tommy excelled in academics and athletics in both the Kirtland and Farmington school systems and graduated from Farmington High Schoool in 1945. After military service in the US Navy, he married Dorothy Elise Tanner of Kirtland, NM and attended Fort Lewis A & M, then in Hesperus, CO. He played football and basketball in college. He completed his Bachelors Degree at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Coach Campbell accepted his first coaching position at Loop, Texas where he was also a teacher and school principal. In 1951, Floran "Hutch" Hutchinson brought Tommy back to Farmoington, NM as an Assistant Football and Basketball coach and the first Head Baseball Coach at Farmington High School. He was also assigned the responsibility of organizing a Summer Baseball Program in Farmington. Tommy was a driving force in establishing both the High School and first Little League Baseball programs for the town. In 1952, he organized the first sponsors and coaches for what has grown into one of the finest baseball programs in the country and for over 40 years host of the Annual Connie Mack World Series. Tommy was an assistant Football Coach under Lou Cullen in 1952 when the Scorpions won the state Championship. He was the Head Football Coach for two periods, 1955-1957 and 1959-1964 as well as Head Basketball Coach. Coach Campbell took the 1960 Scorpions to the State Championship Game in Clovis New Mexico and the 1962 Scorpions to the State Championship in Carlsbad, New Mexico. In 1964 Coach Campbell became the first of many Farmington Coaches to migrate south to Arizona when he accepted the Head Coaching position at Scottsdale High School. He continued his successful career in Scottsdale, AZ and was twice selected as the Phoenix Press Box Associations "Arizona Football Coach of the Week". He earned his Master's Degree from Arizona State University in 1968. In June of 1991 Tommy was one of the original eight inductees to the Farmington High School Athletics and Activities "Hall of Fame". He was also inducted to the Fort Lewis A & M Hall of Fame in 1994. Coach Campbell's career record in New Mexico was 56 Wins, 15 Loses and 1 Tie. In Arizona he had 32 Wins, 18 Loses and 1 Tie. Coach Campbell retired from the Scottsdale School System as a teacher of mathematics and coach in 1989. His life was dedicated to teaching and coaching. He celebrated his 80th birthday on March 14, 2007 in Mesa, AZ with family and friends. Coach Campbell went to be with his Lord in the early morning of May 30, 2007. His wife Dorothy and son Craig were at his side. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, daughter Leesa, sons Sam and Craig, sister Shirleen Campbell Johnston and his Aunt Pauline Miller. He had eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A viewing will be held at Cope Memorial Chapel in Farmington, NM on Sunday, June 3, 2007 between the hours of 4PM and 8PM. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM in the Cope Memorial Chapel on Monday, June 4, 2007. Arrangements entrusted Mariposa Gardens Funeral Care 480 830 442. Published in The Arizona Republic on 6/2/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Stephens County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/stephens/stephens.htm