Civic Leader, Businessman
Richard Campbell had a lifelong commitment to the City of Carthage. He was born at McCune Brooks Hospital in 1954 to Scott and Arlene Hixon Campbell, and never really left, except to attend college. He attended Mark Twain Elementary School, Carthage Junior High, and Carthage Senior High School, graduating in 1972. Despite having had polio as a child, he excelled at basketball, playing at the old Carthage Y as a youth. He was a member of the CHS basketball team that placed 4th in the State in Class L in 1972, and went on to play college ball at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He also was a member of the high school golf team. These early experiences fueled a lifelong passion for sports, and his commitment to make sports accessible to Carthage youth.
After completing his college education in 1975, Richard returned to Carthage and worked as a lumber salesman before founding his own company, Trees Unlimited, Inc. in 1986. A business entrepreneur, he ventured into other businesses as well, as an owner of Four States Supply Company and Locarni Marble. He shared his business expertise by serving on the boards of Freeman Hospital, Bank of America, and Hometown Bank. He developed his strong work ethic early in life as a paperboy for The Carthage Press and by mowing lawns.
Extremely active in civic activities, he was a member of the Carthage Park Board, served on the Steadley Trust Advisory Board, the United Way, Salvation Army Board, Carthage Historic Preservation, and the United Methodist Church. An avid golfer, he was a member of the Men’s Golf Association and was instrumental in the renovation of the Carthage Golf Course. He had three holes-in-one, all earned on the Carthage golf course.
He was the founding president of Fair Acres Family YMCA, and showed his commitment to youth by coaching many baseball and boys and girls basketball teams. He was an avid supporter of Carthage Tigers sports teams.
He married his high school sweetheart, Carrie Brill, in 1976, and delighted in spending time with his two children, Kiley and Patrick, and his grandchildren. Richard’s life was tragically cut short in 2011 at age 57, when a car accident took hi life.
Hall of Carthage Heroes 