Harry D. Campbell

Petroleum Engineer, Athlete, Philanthropist Harry D. Campbell died at his home on May 6, 2011 at the age of 97, surrounded by his beloved family: Velia Ward Campbell, his second wife, and three children by his first marriage, son, Duncan Campbell of Chicago, Il, and daughters Judith Judd of Cherry Hills, CO, and Margaret Campbell Johnson of Vienna, VA. and his grandson, Damon Judd of Denver, CO. Mr. Campbell was born in Redondo Beach, CA on July 26, 1913 and due to the early death of his mother he was raised, along with his two brothers, in an orphanage in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Campbell attended Hollywood High School in Los Angeles and Pasadena Junior College in Pasadena, CA, where he demonstrated his athletic prowess, earning the title of Little All-American for his feats on the football field. Following junior college, Mr. Campbell transferred to Colorado School of Mines (CSM), where he excelled both academically and athletically, guiding the Orediggers football team to an undefeated season in 1939. Mr. Campbell graduated from CSM in 1942, and soon after joined the war effort, serving as Commander of a minesweeper in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters and obtaining the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. Once discharged, Mr. Campbell began his career in petroleum engineering. Over a span of fifty years, he worked for Union Oil Company, served as President of Franco Western Oil Company, and completed his career as president of his own petroleum exploration company located in Denver, CO. During these years, Mr. Campbell served on the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and was a long time member of the Society for Petroleum Engineers. Throughout his adult life, Mr. Campbell invested his time and resources to help ensure the CSM tradition of strong academics and dynamic athletics by establishing two-football scholarships, an endowed chair in petroleum engineering, and funding the development of the Harry D. Campbell Football Field, dedicated in 2010. Mr. Campbell was inducted into the CSM Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004; served as an honorary member of the Colorado School of Mines Foundation Board of Governors and a member of the President's Council and Century Society; and in 2010 received the Mines Tourmaline Award for exceptional philanthropic commitment to the university. Mr. Campbell's additional survivors include three grandchildren, Allison Meyer of Portland, OR, Dana Campbell of New York City, and Kristen Campbell of Reston, VA; two great-grandchildren, Alexis and Andrew Meyer of Portland, OR; two son-in-laws, Gary S. Judd of Denver, CO and Edward H. Johnson of Vienna, VA; three nieces, Donna Campbell Smithson of Long Beach, CA, Clydeen Moller of Encinitas, CA, and Sherry Monie of Glide, OR; three step-children, Nora, Harry and Jonathan Ward of Denver, CO; and a step- grandson, Shannon H. Johnson of Fairfax, VA. Mr. Campbell was predeceased in death by his two brothers, Clyde and Paul Campbell, his first wife of 37 years, Henrietta Campbell Neighbor of Casper, WY, and his longtime partner Fay Shwayder of Denver, CO. Memorials can be made to the Harry D. Campbell Scholarship Fund c/o CSM Foundation, Inc., Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401. Please share your memories of Harry and condolences with his family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" link.