James R. Campbell

Jul. 2, 1932 - Nov. 24, 2018 EDMOND Local Newsman Remembered James Ronald Campbell of Edmond, Oklahoma - journalist, husband, father, step-father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather - passed away quietly on November 24, 2018 with friends and family around him. He was a newsman to the end - a realist dedicated to the pursuit of truth in all things, his work, his faith, and his life.Jim graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where he was editor of the OU Daily, and then started his professional career at the Bartlesville Examiner. After a stint in the US Army, he was hired by United Press International, where he worked for 30 years, serving as Arkansas, Oklahoma, and finally Michigan State Editor. After retirement from UPI, Jim spent many years covering state capitol news for the Oklahoma Press Association. He is a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, and served as President of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, two-time president of the Oklahoma City Press Club, and president of the Oklahoma City Gridiron Club. He was also a long-time director, performer, and writer of the Annual Gridiron Show.An avid runner, Jim competed once in the Boston Marathon and multiple times in the Detroit and OKC Memorial Marathons.Jim was active and independent, still meeting with friends and his Full Circle Book Club, attending services at the First Unitarian Church of OKC, where he was a 50-year member, and hitting the gym, despite declining mobility. Surrounded by newspapers, news magazines and books, he continued to follow daily events with great interest up to the day of his sudden death of pneumonia at age 86.Jim was preceded in death by the love of his life, Betty Sue Donica, is survived by his three daughters, Donica Stephenson, Pam Gray and husband Rick, and Jenifer Cook and husband Chris, grandchildren Lauren Langley Raymundo, Jillian Hansen, Zachary Gray, Nelia Cook, and Augustus Cook, great-grandchildren Evan, Emilia, and Taylor, and great-great-grandchild Aveanna. A memorial service is set for Sunday, December 9, at 1:30pm at First Unitarian Church, 600 NW 13th St., arrangements by Baggerley Funeral Home in Edmond. Correspondence with the family may be mailed to: PO Box 464, Jones, OK 73049. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, www.centralconnection.org/donate. (Select "other funds not listed above" for the designation and then enter S20054. Or mail checks to: Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, 100 N. University Drive, Box 133, Edmond, OK 73034).