Samuel J. Campise

Sam J. Campise was born May 6, 1936 to a farming family in the Brazos River Bottom and raised in rural Burleson County. He and his brother, Joe Jr., attended Catechism classes at San Salvador Mission prior to the family relocating to Bryan in 1947 where they remained lifelong members of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Sam attended Stephen F. Austin High School and there played his favorite sport, baseball.

A devout Aggie, Sam graduated from Texas A&M University in 1958 with a Bachelors of Science in Agronomy.

Upon graduation, Sam served in the U.S. Army in Nashville, Tennessee. He then returned to Bryan where he taught Biology at Allen Academy for two years and remained a lifelong resident. Sam moved on to pursue successful careers in business and agriculture. After ascending to the position of Regional Sales Director for Tide Agrichemical in the 1970s, he founded an agricultural chemical business, Central Valley Chemicals. Joined soon thereafter by his brother, Jim, the business was an immediate success. CVC eventually sold to ConAgra, and Sam and Jim remained with the company. He retired from his role of President in 2000 and continued to participate in the family’s oil, gas, cropland and cattle operations. Through the years, Sam was involved in various real estate and business ventures and farmed in the Bottom, always remaining close to his father, Joe Sr.

He deeply enjoyed watching the Yankees and Aggie sports, especially football, basketball and baseball. He loved checking on his cattle and visiting with friends. He is remembered for his remarkable wit and sense of humor and for his close relationships with his beloved younger brothers.

Sam is preceded in death by his father, Joe S. Campise, Sr., his mother, Frances Ferreri Campise, and his brothers, Joe S. Campise, Jr. and James W. Campise, all of Bryan. He is survived by a circle of close family, friends and caregivers-turned-family, who love him deeply.

A Visitation will be held on Monday, June 12 at 11 A.M. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. The Funeral Service is will begin at 12 P.M. with Monsignor Malinowski officiating. Burial to follow to the Aggie Field of Honor Cemetery.

The family would like to honor and thank Karen Forman, Annie Gaines, Melanie Fort, Chavon Williams, Lucy Singh and Stephanie Rosales for their exquisite care and companionship for Sam during the final season of his life.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students in the name of Sam J. Campise, Class of ‘58.