Sittin’ in the rocker one lazy afternoon and saw a teaser for a Hometown Patriot segment on Shreveport TV station (Channel 3) featuring one of our own, Dr. Richard (Feelgood) Campbell. Watched with much pride as his service to our country was put on display.
Most in our hometown have known Richard for years. Yours truly had the privilege of having the good doc as a classmate beginning in the eighth grade at the old school building and continuing through high school years at MHS until 1964 graduation.
As some would say, there are stories to tell. Sitting in the rocker watching the piece brought memories of sitting in other seats alongside the good doctor, including a few stints in a certain Studebaker. But those are better left deposited in the memory bank.
While the Patriot segment told a story of an important part of his life, it doesn’t tell the whole story of the young Army officer who survived combat service in Viet Nam and returned home to become one of Minden’s most underpublicized servants.
To list all he has done for his hometown and his world would run a flash drive short of memory. We’d have to expand the definition of philanthropy and altruism to tell of all his good works to help others, both here and beyond the borders of this country he fought to protect.
He’s given his time, talent, legal tender and even blood to benefit others. Dr. Campbell has long been recognized as one of the most prolific blood donors in our corner of the planet. He’s received his share of awards and tributes, and is deserving of more.
One of Richard’s most admirable qualities, however, is his ability to serve and contribute without fanfare. He’s a leader/supporter who needs no Facebook selfies, no social media self-serving autobiographical pronouncements, no publicist on retainer and no medical treatment for injury suffered from dislocating a shoulder while patting one’s self on the back.
Dr. Campbell exemplifies that of which Minden needs more; selfless leaders who think of others more often than themselves and quietly go about their good works. We know there are others in our hometown, maybe more than we think. The public won’t know them all because they neither need nor seek acknowledgement.
It would be comforting to know we’re encouraging a generation of selfless leaders to follow in the footsteps of people like Richard. To the people who want to fill big shoes, consider a revised version of The Speech.
“People are basically good. Faith, family, honor and courage mean everything. Power, money and social status mean nothing, and those who believe otherwise have already failed.”
Briefly taking a more typical Rocker tone, we watched Minden’s city council run through its regular Monday meeting with nary a hiccup…well, not so much that you’d notice unless you’re a rememberer. We remember some on the previous council could pop a migraine over our city’s employee manual and the need for upgrading same.
Apparently there’s been movement on that issue, but watching and then reading about Monday’s session raised a question. In a news story, we saw one line that said the city council voted unanimously on “Employee Manual Revision.” Curious: did that mean the manual has been completed and approved, or only parts have been revised?
And, we’re wondering if that manual gives jobs and descriptions for city employees. Do any revisions cover the filling of vacancies or the time frame for doing so? We ask only because there was much publicity concerning the loss of our economic development coordinator, and we understand that position is still vacant. Maybe we’re waiting to fill that slot until another TV show comes along and upgrades a house.
– Pat Culverhouse