By Marilyn Miller

Minden’s “Man of the Year” for 2025 wears many hats. In fact, most of those hats come complete with a college degree. And rarely does this happen, but Tracy Campbell has managed to juggle more than one hat at a time during his professional career.

Soon after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Southern Arkansas University in May of 1999 – with a stop along the way to marry his high school sweetheart, Jennifer – Tracy found himself managing the local newspaper in Minden, LA. One of the youngest to wear the hat of managing editor at the time, Tracy was well qualified for the job with his BA degree in Mass Communication – Print Journalism. In fact, he brought home several awards.

Tracy and Jennifer loved Minden. But after working a few years in the “real world,” Tracy decided he wanted to complete his Master’s Degree in Adult Education, so the couple relocated to Hope, AR. He graduated (Summa Cum Laude again) from the University of Arkansas in 2003.

The couple returned to Minden, where Tracy became part owner of Compass Communications, and as Jake Chapman said in his introduction of Tracy during the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce Gala on Feb. 27, “he never looked back.”

In 2008, after receiving a graduate certificate in Information Assurance from Louisiana Tech University, Tracy opened The Computer Tutor, a computer services business in Minden. One of his favorite recollections involves an older Homer resident who had just taken his computer out of its box. Beyond that, he knew nothing. But he wanted to learn how to “Skype,” Google, email, etc. his children living in Wisconsin. “Skype” opened a whole new world to him, Tracy recalled. He was one of many senior adults that Tracy trained and taught how to use the computer and to recognize scams.

“I have a heart for helping people who get scammed,” he said. And he still gets calls today.

In 2013, Tracy got a call from Terry Gardner, who informed him that Jack Byrd, then-president of MBL Bank, had an IT position open. Tracy said he wasn’t interested, but Jack called him personally and made him an offer. He took the job, “and when Jack found out I wore other hats, he promoted me to vice president of business development and technology.” During this time, Tracy also found himself the owner of a storage facility. Today, he and his pals (or partners) own six locations in Minden and one in Sibley. Tracy worked for MBL Bank for seven years, but then the financial institution was acquired by b1 Bank.

That’s when his friend and mentor, Ty Pendergrass, invited him to join them in a new independent financial services firm. Today, Meriwether Wealth & Financial in Minden is managed by principal owners, Tracy, Jeremy Pendergrass, and Andy Pendergrass. The team of eight “is not your typical financial firm,” Tracy said. “We know we should honor God for what we have. God has been good to us. We pray for our clients…we pray with our clients. Afterall, it’s God’s money.” Tracy continues with Meriwether today, especially enjoying giving financial programs which help senior citizens to avoid scams.

Thinking back, Tracy says he can see where God has “orchestrated his steps.” One of those directed turns came in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the LA-MS coasts. He became a crisis counselor via the Volunteers of America, and he and VOA partner, Mary Jo Kirkland, visited with victims all across north and central Louisiana, offering them encouragement and resources. “It was three years of interesting situations…and FEMA trailers as far as the eye could see.”

But it isn’t all work for Tracy. In fact, his “hobby” – junking – is in his blood. “My family went to auctions, antique shows, estate sales…my neck was always hurting from straining it” hunting for collectibles. Especially those with ties to Minden and Webster Parish. His favorite collectibles are advertising signs and 1950s and ‘60s gas station paraphernalia. And, of course, he has a boatload of Coca-Cola “stuff.”

There’s also stuff like the 1830’s military snare drum, which was found in a backyard in Minden; a 16-foot-long Clabber Girl lithograph in four sections that has “never seen the light of day,” and yes, a seven-foot catfish that had to be tied down with “50,000 straps” to be transported from Springhill to Minden down Hwy. 371. “Some things I have to sell, and that went to a catfish restaurant in Mississippi.”

Tracy loans some “stuff” out, like the coffee paraphernalia on view at Brick Street Coffee. He also “reconnects” some pieces with families, like a Texaco sign that went back to a family in Chestnut, LA. “When something belongs somewhere…is part of a legacy, I can make that happen,” Tracy said.

Tracy beams when he talks about his family, including his wife of nearly 26 years, Jennifer. “They put our lockers next to each other (in high school) and I said, ‘That’s who I’m gonna marry,” he recalled. Today, the couple has two children, Colin, 20, a sophomore at Louisiana Tech in Computer Science, and Lily, a freshman in high school. “I’m proud of them. They are good kids.”

Looking back…30 years ago at Springhill High School when Tracy was voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” along with “Woman of the Year” 2025 Sara McDaniel…”if you told that guy ‘You’re going to live in Minden, you’re going to be Man of the Year, you’re going to be a financial advisor, you’ll be married for 26 years, you’ll have two wonderful children’…I’d just say ‘You’re nuts!’” he laughed.

“Yes, it’s pretty cool to see how God has orchestrated my steps for the last 30 years.”