FOUNDER Clan Campbell Society (USA), CCSUSA Past President, CCSUSA Past President-Elect
IN MEMORIAM - JUDGE HUGH B. CAMPBELL, SR.
So long as the Boar's Head flies over Clan Campbell in America, Judge Hugh B. Campbell will be remembered.
Being raised in the Carolinas young Hugh could hardly have avoided hearing the sound of the pipes sooner or later and when he first heard them his blood must have been stirred. For the heritage of the Highlander had no more thoughtful and warmhearted warrior in its cause than this son of Clan Campbell.
A man of incisive intellect and a broad cultural understanding, Judge Hugh balanced forthrightness with caring and was a true Highland gentleman whose quality, however rare today, is measured most keenly at his loss.
While he might tend to step aside and put forward his associate J. Boylston Campbell who did so much to bring to birth the Clan Campbell Society (USA), Judge Hugh B. Campbell was a true Founder. Judge Hugh was a man whose integrity people trusted instinctively and this, more than anything, had been a needed ingredient in the birth of the Society.
The first meeting of the Clan Campbell Society of the USA was called to order by the Convenor, Judge Hugh B. Campbell, and the Organizer, J. Boylston Campbell, at about 9:15 am on the 8th of July 1972 in the Clan Campbell tent at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games near Linville, North Carolina. About fifteen Campbells witnessed the proceedings. The following July an organization was formally inaugurated with J. Boylston Campbell as President.
However, it would be under Judge Hugh Campbell's Presidency (1975-1978) that the Clan Campbell Society (USA) was officially recognized in person by the visit of Mac Cailein Mor, Chief of Clan Campbell, His Grace the 12th Duke of Argyll to the clan gathered at Grandfather Mountain North Carolina in July 1976.
When, on the night of the 5th of November 1975, fire severely damaged Inveraray Castle, Judge Hugh launched a two-million-dollar appeal for the restoration fund. The extent to which Americans responded to his efforts and to those of his colleagues in the appeal helped to restore the castle to its former glory, providing a significant input by overseas Scots to augment the major funds raised in Great Britain.
Judge Hugh B. Campbell's contribution to all of us who enjoy our participation in the Clan Campbell Society (USA) was a considerable one. We remember him and his family who are continuing his fight that our Campbell and Highland heritage shall flourish always and, following our Chief, we Do Not Forget.
On the death of Judge Hugh Campbell on August 5th 1989 editorials in newspapers throughout the State of North Carolina paid tribute to him. Judge Hugh, as he was respectfully and lovingly known by those privileged to have his friendship, was known for his integrity, outstanding character and leadership ability, as proved by the manner in which he vitalized the Clan Campbell Society of America and made it outstanding among the Clan Societies. He was our first President and what a great one he was! It was difficult for anyone to follow in his footsteps.
When we received the news of his death we immediately started out for Charlotte North Carolina, Judge Hugh's home for the past fifty-five years. Even under such trying circumstances and in spite of the emotional stress of the last weeks of his life, Judge Hugh's wife Thelma was, as always, her gracious, loving and hospitable self.
The funeral service was most impressive and held in St Martin's Episcopal church where Judge Hugh had served as Senior Warden. the only flowers were identical beautiful large mixed bouquets from our Chief Mac Cailein Mor, the 12th Duke of Argyll, and from the Clan Campbell Society (USA). As the service began a piper led the procession into the church and up the aisle playing "Bowers of the Forest". Following the piper was Donald Draper Campbell, Secretary of the Clan Campbell Society (USA) carrying Judge Hugh's banner. He was followed by former President Jim Campbell immediately preceding the casket. Both wore kilts of the "ancient" Campbell tartan as they knew that would have pleased Judge Hugh.
The church was packed with the Campbell family friends, among them outstanding fellow judges from all over the South and others from all walks of life. All joined in singing the congregational hymns "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and 'The Strife is O'er". After the service was over the piper played "Scotland the Brave" as the procession left the church, a fitting melody for a devoted Campbell who deeply loved Scotland and all for which it stands.
It was a service which would have pleased Judge Hugh very much. I felt his presence was with us. Farewell to our beloved Judge Hugh. We will sorely miss you.
JUDGE HUGH CAMPBELL, A TRIBUTE
By Col. Bob Campbell Regional Commissioner and Trustee.
The Society lost an outstanding member on the 5th of August. For many of us who knew him and his lovely wife Thelma, he was the Clan Campbell Society (USA). He recruited me into the Robert Burns Society and then into the Clan Campbell Society in 1978.
For those of us who heard Judge Hugh deliver the "Address to a Haggis" will never hear it better done. This year his illness prevented him from attending the Grandfather Mountain Games for the first time in 20 years. I have never had so many "old timers" there ask me where Judge Campbell was. He will be missed there, and it will never seem the same without his presence and marching with him in the Parade of Tartans.
The importance of Judge Hugh's part in the founding and early development of the Clan Campbell Society (USA) can hardly be overstated.
He was a man of complete integrity, a gentleman in the best sense of that word. Strangers meeting him felt instantly that any organization in which he played an important roll must be all right.
Those of us who worked with him in the Society's early days and since, regard him as one of our very dearest friends. We reveled in the endless stories he would tell. We will always feel we are better human beings for having known him.
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Retired Judges' Paintings Unveiled At Courthouse - Hugh Brown Campbell
c. 1979
Portraits of two retired Mecklenburg County (N.C.) judges were dedicated to the county recently, both paintings by the well known artist Joseph Wallace King, best known for his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was featured worldwide in the press and was the first official portrait of the Queen to hang in the U.S. outside the British Embassy.
King's portraits of William Bobbit, retired chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, and Hugh Brown Campbell, former N.C. Court of Appeals judge, were given to Mecklenburg County by the 26th Judicial Districe Bar Association.
Judge Campbell served in the N.C. Court of Appeals from 1967 until his retirement in 1974 and was a Mecklenburg Superior Court Judge from 1955 to 1967. Campbell, 71, also served as city Attorney from 1941 to 1945. He has lived in Charlotte since 1934, and is the immediate past Presidnet of The Clan Campbell Society, U.S.A.
Winston-Salem artist Joseph Wallace King poses with portraits of two retired Mecklenburg County Judges --- ex-Supreme Court Chief Justice William Bobbit on the left and ex-Court of Appeals Judge Hugh Brown Campbell. The portraits were hung in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse.
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OUR FIRST, FIRST FAMILY
By Elizabeth Johnson Campbell, c. December 1983
The unusual and attractive invitation read:
“Come join our Campbell Clan
honoring
Thelma and Hugh Campbell
on their 50th wedding anniversary”
A small bow of Campbell tartan ribbon inserted at the top of the invitation gave it the perfect touch.
Hugh and Thelma's sons, Hugh Jr. and William, and their daughter Betty, with their wives and husband hosted the beautiful affair.
What a welcome! As we drove to the entrance of the Charlotte Country Club, one of the loveliest in the South, a piper stood beneath the tall white columns playing "The Campbells Are Coming"
There, just inside the doors, stood Clan Campbell Society, (USA) first President (after the Society was incorporated) Judge Hugh Campbell. He was in full Highland Evening Dress and as impressive as any "Monarch of the Glen". At the ballroom entrance First Lady Thelma awaited their guests. She looked simply "smashing", equally as impressive as Judge Hugh but in a prettier, more glamorous way (sorry about that, Hugh!)
Christmas trees with small twinkling star lights, flanked each side of the entrance to the ballroom. At either end of the long spacious room are handsome colonial mantels, the mirrors above them were framed in swags of Christmas greens and a huge wreath on each mirror. With a crackling log fire beneath, it was truly a beautiful scene.
The orchestra played good music, and I mean GOOD, as in Lester Lanin, Sammy Kaye, Meyer Davis and Eddie Duchin! The buffet tables and the varied beautiful flowers on them were outstanding in every way. I could make you very hungry by describing it all, but I will be considerate.
(Pictured in the photo : Judge Hugh and Thelma Campbell, with daughter Betty, and sons Bill (on Hugh's right) and Hugh Jr.)
Not only were the Campbells well represented but many other Scotsmen also - among them McGregor, McKay, Buchanan, Abernethy, Hunter, Glasgow, Smith, Gunn, Moore and Gilchrist to name the ones I remember. Some wore kilts as a special request from Judge Hugh.
It was a privilege to meet Hugh's brother, retired Episcopal Bishop of West Virginia, Rt. Rev. Wilburn Campbell and his charming wife and all the Campbell grandchildren who were as attractive a group as I have ever seen. What a great thing to have three generations of Campbells at such a memorable occasion.
If it had not been for Judge Hugh the Clan Campbell Society (USA), know it, would never have come into being. At one point Judge Hugh was the SOLE representative of the Campbell Clan at the Grandfather Games.
In 1974, at Grandfather Mountain, Judge Hugh, along with several others formed the Association which later evolved into our present Clan Campbell Society (USA). We owe a great debt to him for launching and inspiring our present Clan Society Organization. His priceless humor, coupled with great judicial dignity, has given us much prestige with other clans.
Naturally we owe a lot to Thelma also, Hugh, for she is the epitome of a FIRST LADY.
From all of us in the Clan, many more happy anniversaries to you; we love you very much and are proud that you, Hugh, with Thelma, are our premier representatives.
P.S. If you should think I am "elaborating", forget it, because to us it truly was the party of the year - if only Bill Buckley, Jr. were her to help me with some of the big words, then it would be SOME description.
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When Hugh Brown Campbell, Sr., was born on 14 March 1907, in Haywood, North Carolina, United States, his father, Wilburn Camrock Campbell, Sr., was 27 and his mother, Stella C. Brown, was 23. He married Thelma Louise Welles on 2 December 1933, in Florida, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in United States in 1949 and Mount Vernon, Fairfax, Virginia, United States in 1950. He died on 5 August 1989, in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States, at the age of 82, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States.
Find-A-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69970211/hugh_brown_campbell
