HARVE CAMPBELL DIES

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MARSHAL CAMPBELL WHO HAD BEEN POLICE CHIEF FOR 20 YEARS PASSED AWAY

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POPULAR MAN

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ONE OF THE VERY BEST VOTE GETTERS WHEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE WE HAVE SEEN

               Harve B Campbell, Chief of Police of Rich Hill for the past twenty years, passed away at this home on Maple Street Sunday night, July 11, at eight o'clock. He had suffered a paralytic stroke on Tuesday and never regained consciousness. He was up town in his car and must have had a premonition that something was wrong as he drove home and parked the car and got out and then was unable to get into the house. His wife and two daughters came out and helped him in the house. He lingered on until Sunday night, growing weaker each day until the end came on Sunday evening.

               Marshal Campbell was closely associated with the entire life of Rich Hill. When a young man, he worked in the coal mines and his strong body made him a valuable man. He was always a big man, just a short time before his death he weighed 275 pounds and was all muscle. After the mines started slowing up, Harve decided to run for office and made the race for Marshal but was defeated by Cleve Self. Then he came back later and was elected and after that he was never defeated. Everyone in this part of the state who ever made Rich Hill remembered Harve Campbell. He was good natured and well liked by all the people here who knew him well and as an officer he was absolutely fearless. No one ever said that Harve Campbell was afraid. There have been times when he rushed in to make an arrest when it looked like he was taking his life in his hands. But it seemed as though Harve never thought about danger.

               When he got into politics, he was the kind of a fellow who could rally his friends around him in a great way. He did so many good turns for people, went out of his way many a time to do someone a favor that when it came for him to ask for something in the way of votes those same people just naturally felt that they had to vote for him. He was one of the best vote getters we have ever known. And in the words of a well known ad -- "such popularity must be deserved".

               For the past few years, Harve has not been himself physically. His strong rugged body was not what it used to be. His heart was not as strong as it was at one time and he was not able to do the work that he did in his younger years. But he was still the same accommodating fellow he always was, the same genial personality and many a kiddie and a great many older people found that they could count on Harve Campbell going down the line for him. When a carnival came to town Harve would get a big hand full of tickets for the ferris wheel and the merry go round and see that some kid that would not get a ride otherwise was supplied with a ticket. If the circus came here Harve was on hand with a request for tickets and the kiddies would see the circus. Those kids and their parents never forgot those acts of kindness that he did. And many a dollar out of his pocket went to make a good meal for some people who were a little less fortunate.

               The town of Rich Hill is going to miss Harve Campbell very much. He inspired confidence when he was around.

               He was very devoted to his two daughters and his son Harland. Harland died just three years to the day before his father. Harve was pretty much broken up over his death. His daughters, Mrs W Roll and Mrs Joe Wheeler were devoted to their father as was also Mrs Campbell. They all worked together when necessary and the girls would get out and haul in votes for their dad with the zeal and devotion that you would expect from daughters of their father. In fact the whole Campbell family always stuck pretty close together.

               Harve was 63 years old at the time of his death. He would have been 64 in October. Las April he was elected Marshal and if he had completed that term he would have served 22 years continuously.

               He is survived by his wife and the two daughters and two grandchildren.

               Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the Christian Church conducted by Rev Earl Bingham. The church was packed with friends and relatives of Mr Campbell, who wanted to pay a last silent tribute to this man who has served the community for so many years. The floral offerings were beautiful. The men around town all went together and bought a beautiful floral piece out of remembrance of Harve. The stores were closed during the funeral.

               The pall bearers were Mayor Ted Engels, Councilmen J Elmer Jones, Edgar Waller, Ed Montgomery, Alfred Copeland, Police Judge, John Stangle.

               Burial was made in Greenlawn Cemetery.