Francis Paterson Campbell died Feb. 7, 2013 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 86. Frank was the son of John and Margaret Dunsmore Campbell. He was born May 6, 1926 in Shreveport Louisiana. Frank was for many years a sole practitioner CPA in Houston. He was an avid saltwater fisherman. He retired in 1989 and relocated to Fredericksburg, Texas. Frank graduated from Lamar High School in Houston and the University of Texas where he was NCAA All-American on the 3 meter springboard in 1950 for the Longhorn swimming team. Frank was a WWII veteran who served as a water survival instructor at the Naval Air Station North Island in California.
In 1944, Frank was Texas high school champion in the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle.
In 1943, Dad's family moved from University Park in Dallas to Houston. Dad was a senior at Lamar High School which did not sponsor a swimming team. Determined not to lose his chance to compete, he organized an irregular and unsponsored team of four like-minded students who trained together in secret and who on the day of the event skipped school to attend the state championship swimming meet. I'm told that these daring lads scored enough points to be awarded the trophy for third place. When they subsequently showed up for class, the principal announced they were suspended for unauthorized absence. My grandfather, who obtained the rank of sergeant in the 10th Australian Light Horse while serving in Egypt in WWI, had a talk with the principal. The boys were readmitted and the trophy was given a place of honor in the school's display case.
Frank enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in 1944 at the age of seventeen. He was sent to boot camp in San Diego where he was tested for swimming proficiency. The lieutenant who was commanding the competitive and exhibition swimming team at North Island saw his performance and on completion of his boot camp training Frank was hidden from the assignments people until paperwork was completed assigning him to North Island's water survival training program. North Island served as the point from which the USO organized entertainment for Navy personnel. Dad's participation in the program brought him into contact with people like Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Florence Chadwick (the record holder for the swim across the English Channel), and Dr. Sammy Lee, who was Olympic champion diver on the 10 meter platform in 1948 and 1952. Sammy Lee and Dad remained friends for life. Frank enrolled in the University of Texas accounting program where he was able to finance his education with a swimming scholarship and the GI Bill. UT was overrun with veterans and Dad and his brother Jack shared a single bed in a boarding house until Dad could obtain a place in the Hill Hall athletic dorm.
That love for competitive swimming continued throughout his life. Frank was a contributor to Working Exes for Texas Swimming (WETS). In retirement he took up competition in the Masters Swimming competition. In 2001, Frank and three other swimmers set a world record. His certificates states: "FINA hereby certifies that the performance of Frank Campbell in the 200 meter freestyle – relay men (short course) age group 280-319 years [total age for the four swimmers] in the time of 2:04.66 set October 6, 2001 is a Master's World Record confirmed in compliance with the rules of the Federation Internationale Natation.
Frank is survived by his wife of 61 years, his four children, and eleven grandchildren.
In 1944, Frank was Texas high school champion in the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle.
In 1943, Dad's family moved from University Park in Dallas to Houston. Dad was a senior at Lamar High School which did not sponsor a swimming team. Determined not to lose his chance to compete, he organized an irregular and unsponsored team of four like-minded students who trained together in secret and who on the day of the event skipped school to attend the state championship swimming meet. I'm told that these daring lads scored enough points to be awarded the trophy for third place. When they subsequently showed up for class, the principal announced they were suspended for unauthorized absence. My grandfather, who obtained the rank of sergeant in the 10th Australian Light Horse while serving in Egypt in WWI, had a talk with the principal. The boys were readmitted and the trophy was given a place of honor in the school's display case.
Frank enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in 1944 at the age of seventeen. He was sent to boot camp in San Diego where he was tested for swimming proficiency. The lieutenant who was commanding the competitive and exhibition swimming team at North Island saw his performance and on completion of his boot camp training Frank was hidden from the assignments people until paperwork was completed assigning him to North Island's water survival training program. North Island served as the point from which the USO organized entertainment for Navy personnel. Dad's participation in the program brought him into contact with people like Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Florence Chadwick (the record holder for the swim across the English Channel), and Dr. Sammy Lee, who was Olympic champion diver on the 10 meter platform in 1948 and 1952. Sammy Lee and Dad remained friends for life. Frank enrolled in the University of Texas accounting program where he was able to finance his education with a swimming scholarship and the GI Bill. UT was overrun with veterans and Dad and his brother Jack shared a single bed in a boarding house until Dad could obtain a place in the Hill Hall athletic dorm.
That love for competitive swimming continued throughout his life. Frank was a contributor to Working Exes for Texas Swimming (WETS). In retirement he took up competition in the Masters Swimming competition. In 2001, Frank and three other swimmers set a world record. His certificates states: "FINA hereby certifies that the performance of Frank Campbell in the 200 meter freestyle – relay men (short course) age group 280-319 years [total age for the four swimmers] in the time of 2:04.66 set October 6, 2001 is a Master's World Record confirmed in compliance with the rules of the Federation Internationale Natation.
Frank is survived by his wife of 61 years, his four children, and eleven grandchildren.
Francis Paterson Campbell died Feb. 7, 2013 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 86. Frank was the son of John and Margaret Dunsmore Campbell. He was born May 6, 1926 in Shreveport Louisiana. Frank was for many years a sole practitioner CPA in Houston. He was an avid saltwater fisherman. He retired in 1989 and relocated to Fredericksburg, Texas. Frank graduated from Lamar High School in Houston and the University of Texas where he was NCAA All-American on the 3 meter springboard in 1950 for the Longhorn swimming team. Frank was a WWII veteran who served as a water survival instructor at the Naval Air Station North Island in California.
In 1944, Frank was Texas high school champion in the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle.
In 1943, Dad's family moved from University Park in Dallas to Houston. Dad was a senior at Lamar High School which did not sponsor a swimming team. Determined not to lose his chance to compete, he organized an irregular and unsponsored team of four like-minded students who trained together in secret and who on the day of the event skipped school to attend the state championship swimming meet. I'm told that these daring lads scored enough points to be awarded the trophy for third place. When they subsequently showed up for class, the principal announced they were suspended for unauthorized absence. My grandfather, who obtained the rank of sergeant in the 10th Australian Light Horse while serving in Egypt in WWI, had a talk with the principal. The boys were readmitted and the trophy was given a place of honor in the school's display case.
Frank enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in 1944 at the age of seventeen. He was sent to boot camp in San Diego where he was tested for swimming proficiency. The lieutenant who was commanding the competitive and exhibition swimming team at North Island saw his performance and on completion of his boot camp training Frank was hidden from the assignments people until paperwork was completed assigning him to North Island's water survival training program. North Island served as the point from which the USO organized entertainment for Navy personnel. Dad's participation in the program brought him into contact with people like Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Florence Chadwick (the record holder for the swim across the English Channel), and Dr. Sammy Lee, who was Olympic champion diver on the 10 meter platform in 1948 and 1952. Sammy Lee and Dad remained friends for life. Frank enrolled in the University of Texas accounting program where he was able to finance his education with a swimming scholarship and the GI Bill. UT was overrun with veterans and Dad and his brother Jack shared a single bed in a boarding house until Dad could obtain a place in the Hill Hall athletic dorm.
That love for competitive swimming continued throughout his life. Frank was a contributor to Working Exes for Texas Swimming (WETS). In retirement he took up competition in the Masters Swimming competition. In 2001, Frank and three other swimmers set a world record. His certificates states: "FINA hereby certifies that the performance of Frank Campbell in the 200 meter freestyle – relay men (short course) age group 280-319 years [total age for the four swimmers] in the time of 2:04.66 set October 6, 2001 is a Master's World Record confirmed in compliance with the rules of the Federation Internationale Natation.
Frank is survived by his wife of 61 years, his four children, and eleven grandchildren.
In 1944, Frank was Texas high school champion in the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle.
In 1943, Dad's family moved from University Park in Dallas to Houston. Dad was a senior at Lamar High School which did not sponsor a swimming team. Determined not to lose his chance to compete, he organized an irregular and unsponsored team of four like-minded students who trained together in secret and who on the day of the event skipped school to attend the state championship swimming meet. I'm told that these daring lads scored enough points to be awarded the trophy for third place. When they subsequently showed up for class, the principal announced they were suspended for unauthorized absence. My grandfather, who obtained the rank of sergeant in the 10th Australian Light Horse while serving in Egypt in WWI, had a talk with the principal. The boys were readmitted and the trophy was given a place of honor in the school's display case.
Frank enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in 1944 at the age of seventeen. He was sent to boot camp in San Diego where he was tested for swimming proficiency. The lieutenant who was commanding the competitive and exhibition swimming team at North Island saw his performance and on completion of his boot camp training Frank was hidden from the assignments people until paperwork was completed assigning him to North Island's water survival training program. North Island served as the point from which the USO organized entertainment for Navy personnel. Dad's participation in the program brought him into contact with people like Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Florence Chadwick (the record holder for the swim across the English Channel), and Dr. Sammy Lee, who was Olympic champion diver on the 10 meter platform in 1948 and 1952. Sammy Lee and Dad remained friends for life. Frank enrolled in the University of Texas accounting program where he was able to finance his education with a swimming scholarship and the GI Bill. UT was overrun with veterans and Dad and his brother Jack shared a single bed in a boarding house until Dad could obtain a place in the Hill Hall athletic dorm.
That love for competitive swimming continued throughout his life. Frank was a contributor to Working Exes for Texas Swimming (WETS). In retirement he took up competition in the Masters Swimming competition. In 2001, Frank and three other swimmers set a world record. His certificates states: "FINA hereby certifies that the performance of Frank Campbell in the 200 meter freestyle – relay men (short course) age group 280-319 years [total age for the four swimmers] in the time of 2:04.66 set October 6, 2001 is a Master's World Record confirmed in compliance with the rules of the Federation Internationale Natation.
Frank is survived by his wife of 61 years, his four children, and eleven grandchildren.
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