Albert B Campbell Jr.

Albert (AL) Campbell Jr. of Bryan, Texas passed away on December 15, 2024, after battling invasive

skin cancer for several years. Al is survived by his wife Claire and sons Blaine and his wife Marci of

Madison Wisconsin; Flint and his wife Carol of Arnold Kansas; Kyle and his wife Bun of Montgomery

Texas; daughter Robin (deceased) and husband Perry Henman of Ellis, Kansas; cousins Jeanne

Boudreau of Parker, Colorado, Norman Creel of Rapid City, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren and 15

great grandchildren.

Al was born on July 16, 1932, in the hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado to Albert Beryl Campbell

and Rossie Roberta Richardson. His early years were in Grand Junction and Eagle Colorado where

his father was in the lumber business. Al spent summers with his Campbell grandparents on a

ranch in Paonia, Colorado.

In 1942 Al’s Father took a job in sales with Ralston Purina and the family moved to Denver and then

to St. Louis. Al was involved in athletics and marching band during his jr. and High school years. He

played several instruments, the trombone being his favorite. While in high school, Al worked each

summer at various ranches in Colorado. Al graduated from Southwest High School in St. Louis in

June 1950. He had an interest in agriculture and immediately became a ranch hand at a ranch

owned by Oklahoma Panhandle University.

The Korean war started in June of 1950 and in September Al left Oklahoma for St. Louis where he

became a certified auto and diesel mechanic. Meanwhile, he joined the Missouri Army Air National

Guard. His guard unit was activated in 1951 and became part of the regular Air Force. His unit was

sent to Vermont and shortly after the Air Force issued a need for mechanical personnel. Al

volunteered and was sent to Korea where he served for one year. He ended active duty in 1953 with

an honorable discharge from the Air Force in January of 1954.

Al’s academic career started with the help of the GI Bill in the summer of 1953 when he enrolled at

Fort Hays State University in Kansas where he earned the BS in Business Administration. Later he

earned a Master of Arts degree from Western State Colorado and the Doctorate in Education from

Arizona State University in 1970. He accumulated academic credits along the way from Claremont

Graduate University in California, Florida State, Texas A&M and Sam Houston. Al’s first job following college was Manager of The Gunnison, Colorado Chamber of Commerce. This was followed by his becoming part-owner of the Western Furniture and Appliance, Moving and Storage in Gunnison. His temporary and part-time positions included Justice of The Peace and Police Magistrate, U.S. Forest Service, asphalt paving sales, and owner of Al’s Automotive Maintenance and Repair Co. Al was part owner and operator of The Riverside Hotel in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. Meanwhile, he was supported by a beautiful family, his wife Pat, daughter Robin and sons Blaine and Flint.

Al earned Teaching Certificates in both Academic and Vocational Education. He taught high school

in Carlsbad, N. M. and both secondary and Junior College at New Mexico Military Institute in

Roswell. While in Roswell, another son, Kyle, was added to his wonderful family. Later he was an

instructor of automotive technology in the Texas prison system. He was a college instructor in

education technology in the Texas prison system. He was a college instructor in

education at Arizona State University and Western State College and finally an Associate Professor

of Adult and Occupational Education at Kansas State University and Texas A&M. He was President

of the National Commission for Adult Basic Education (COABE), secretary-treasurer of the

Corrections Education Association and Adult and Continuing Education. (AEA)

In 1979, Al, his new wife Claire and son Kyle moved to a ranch in Robertson County after converting

a hay barn into a comfortable home that they occupied 40 years. Ranching was a part time job for Al

until he retired from professional teaching in 1990. Always interested in organizational activities,

retirement allowed Al to join the Texas Silver Haired Legislature where he served for 27 years. He

was elected to all the TSHL officer positions except speaker and was selected for the exclusive

“emeritus” status. Al taught AARP driver safety classes for 25 years and was a member of the AARP

State Executive Council. Al also served the Area Agency on Aging and was Chairman of the Advisory

Council for 24 years. He was Sheriff of the Westerns Club in Bryan, Texas and active in the Texas

Retired Teachers Association as local officer and member of the state Board of Directors. He was

active in civic organizations during retirement including Lions, Senior Expo, and Hearne Chamber of

Commerce. In addition, he qualified as a heavy equipment operator through Texas A&M extension

with a specialty in motor graders. Al was a member of both VFW and American Legion.

Al and his wife Claire enjoyed traveling and they participated in 52 Road Scholar programs, 14 of

them being international. Claire was a professional storyteller and they both worked several years

at the Texas Renaissance Festival where Al managed a food booth. For the final 8 years Claire and

Al shared an apartment at the Carriage Inn in Bryan, Texas. In retrospect, Al often reminded us that it was the support, encouragement and love provided by his first wife (Pat) and second wife (Claire) and four children along with a model for life and sense of security from his parents and help from family and many good friends that made it possible for him to have a wonderful life full of love, happiness, opportunity, contribution and experience.

Please share your condolences and memories by contacting the Dignity Memorial chapel:

www.dignitymemorial.com. Instead of flowers, please plant a memorial tree by contacting the

Arbor Day Foundation. https://shop.arborday.org>trees. The burial will be at the Bethlehem

Cemetery, Paonia, Colorado.