Adam Howe
Editor-In-Chief
Longtime, retired Warsaw educator, Bob "Coach" Campbell passed away on Saturday. He was 70 years old.
In his day, Campbell was an All-Conference and All-District point guard for his Wildcats basketball team.
He took his love for the sport and others and compounded that into a 30+ year career in physical education, most of which came for Warsaw schools.
In addition to his full-time role in the gym, Campbell spent many, many hours in gyms and on fields coaching junior high football, track, high school softball, little league baseball and summer softball.
Unofficially, Campbell is said to probably have coached and won more games in the Warsaw Lion's Club Basketball Tournament than any other coach. Oftentimes, Campbell coached multiple teams in basketball tournaments and ended up playing his own teams against one another.
Along with his wife, Anita, the Campbell's received the 2011 Academic Service Award and in 2018, "Coach" was inducted into the Warsaw Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions not only as a player, but also for his illustrious career as a physical education teacher and coach.
After his retirement, Campbell worked the family farms in Edwards, Fristoe and Warsaw.
Several former colleagues and/or students shared their thoughts of Coach Campbell . . .
Barry Edwards: "In any small community there are a handful of people that are integral to the life of that community. For Warsaw, Bob was one of those people. He was a larger than life character to the little students that he taught. He was full of energy and enthusiasm which was contagious. Having coached with Bob for several years, I saw his love of competition, his desire for kids to give their best and enjoy the challenge of becoming better. Literally hundreds of kids, parents and friends were touched by Bob's life."
Mike Schockmann: "I think Coach Campbell's greatest impact can be seen in the success of our student athletes starting in the late 1980's and continuing throughout the 1990's. Most of our athletic programs enjoyed a good bit of success during the time. That success is directly related to his leadership in the youth programs at the time and also how he structured his P.E. classes to teach sections on the sport that was in season. His influence went beyond the athletic field as well; case in point would be my oldest daughter. When she had Coach Campbell as her P.E. instructor, she always wanted to dress up on the days she had it. She said that P.E. was special to her and that she wanted to treat it accordingly by looking nice. She also developed a love for the band Queen because Coach Campbell would play their songs during P.E. To this day, Queen songs are still in her playlist."
Loren Burke: "Bob had almost every boy and girl to come through Warsaw elementary schools for around 30 years. He touched a lot of lives. God bless you Bob Campbell!"
Josh Noland: "I am forever grateful that I got to play for Coach Campbell. For many of us, he was the first person, aside from family, who taught us about paying attention to the details, working hard and doing things the right way. He was intense even when we were young but when you succeeded, he loved experiencing that with the whole team. His genuine caring for his players is something I will always appreciate."
Eddie Carroll: "Coach Campbell left a positive influence on our girls while not only in school, but how he was seen within the community. In every way that he left his thumb print on this community was positive, dedicated and inspirational. He will be truly missed not only by his loving family, but all those countless people that had the opportunity to know 'Coach Campbell'."
Billy Daleske: "There are few people who come to mind who did more for the youth of Warsaw than Coach Campbell. He was a dedicated educator and coach to so many over the years. What made him special is not only did he teach students the basics of physical education, he taught us to love our school and to take pride in our community. He loved Warsaw and he loved being a Wildcat."
David Fajen: "Selfless dedication and pride are words that I would use to describe Coach Campbell. Coach worked more hours than I can imagine to provide everyone an opportunity to participate in youth sports, often coaching North and South youth basketball teams (that played against each other on occasion). Prior to his retirement, I don't recall ever seeing him in anything other than Wildcats green."
Jared Steenburgen: "Bob Campbell's impact on Warsaw is truly immeasurable. He laid the foundational principles that still stand firm in our schools today: Tradition, Pride and Excellence. I don't have a single memory of Warsaw that Coach Campbell isn't embedded into. He was so much more than just a guy who taught physical education. He was like a second father to me, as he was to countless other Warsaw students."
Dwayne Davis: "Coach Campbell was the first coach I ever had. Among my classmates and friends he is a true legend. In today's times when youth sports programs sometimes struggle to find coaching and leadership, we were blessed to have a man like Coach Campbell. He was always there coaching, no matter the sport. His dedication and commitment to youth sports is something I’ll forever be grateful for."
Mike Davenport: "Coach Campbell instilled in his students and athletes the values of perseverance, teamwork, and sportsmanship. His profound impact extended far beyond victories on the field or court. He taught valuable life lessons and set an example of integrity that will forever echo in the hearts of those they coached. Coach Campbell was more than just an exceptional educator; he was a beacon of inspiration and support to all who had the privilege of knowing him. His spirit will live on through the lives he's touched. His widom resonates with us, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come."
Scott Gemes: "Coach Campbell has touched so many lives over the years. His pride in the Warsaw School District showed through everything he did. Coach Campbell bled green and black. Personally, I enjoyed having Coach Campbell as my coach and PE teacher, but the best part was getting to work with him as a middle school football coach when I came back home the first time. Recently, I enjoyed conversations with him about his grandkids and the future of Warsaw School District. Coach Campbell loved his students and players. He did a great job building relationships with them. He is going to be missed!"
A complete obituary can be found on page 16 in this edition of the Benton County Enterprise.
