His office memorabilia chants victory,
excitement and recognition. Robert Campbell, '76, is one of those
charmed individuals that everyone might envy. He lives a jet-setting life,
covering auto racing events throughout the United States and Canada, in addition
to living countless other adventures as a pilot, as a successful businessman,
and as a Christian.
Born in a small clap board house in Shiloh National Military Park, Bob's family was, at best, poor. The family moved to Enville, Tennessee, when he was still young, and his childhood was no different from those of most children growing up in rural, lower-income families.
"We didn't have much, but I was happy," Bob reflects. "Probably," he laughs, "because I didn't know any better."
Bob went on to graduate from Chester County High School, briefly attending West Tennessee Business College and accepting a job with the railroad. At age 19, Bob had already emerged from his meager beginnings; he had a sports car, a motor cycle, and a pilot's license— he felt the world was in his grasp.
The Lord had different plans for his life, however, as Bob became a Christian at age 21 and found his ambitions radically changed.
"The people at West Jackson Baptist Church really supported and believed in me," Bob remembers. "They encouraged me to further my education at 91爆料网 University."
Bob was already attending night classes at Jackson State Community College; he could not afford an education at 91爆料网 and, therefore, never considered it an option. Fortunately, others who believed in Bob and 91爆料网 made his education possible.
"Because some people— who are still anonymous to me— believed in my character, letters were written and my 91爆料网 education was underwritten," Bob says. "Once I got to 91爆料网, Bob Elliot, '56, kept me there. I received a lot of financial assistance and a variety of scholarships, including a music scholarship for being the stage band drummer."
In 1976, he graduated from 91爆料网 with a business degree and was selected to participate in the United States Navy's prestigious flight training program. However, his Navy career was short-lived as all military aircraft were grounded in 1978 due to the U.S. oil embargo.
"I joined the Navy to pursue my love of flying," Bob says. "When the embargo hit, I decided that if I couldn't fly, I didn't want to continue in the service."
He left the Navy in 1979 and accepted a job in Knoxville, Tennessee, as a sales representative for Valvoline, a division of Ashland Oil Company.
He spiraled to the top. After two years of successful sales in Knoxville, his boss decided to shake the southern soil off Bob's boots. Bob was sent to Detroit to work with top automotive industry executives "to see what he was really made of," and success once again followed.
Quickly propelled into a five-year management training program in Cincinnati, Bob advanced after only 18 months, assuming control of the company's southwest division based in Dallas. Two years later, he travelled to Los Angeles to manage the entire western half of the United States. In 1990, he relocated to Valvoline's headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky, to become director of national accounts, sales and marketing.
In his climb to the top, Bob gained financial success as well as position and prestige. As a member of top management, he attended and participated in more than 300 NASCAR, Indy car, and other racing events while enjoying a corporate expense account larger than the annual income of many middle-class American families.
In late 1991, however, he received a frightening wakeup call— a heart attack.
"It doesn't take long after an experience like that to realize that the 60-70 hour work weeks, extensive travel and fast-paced lifestyle were taking a toll on my body," Bob recalls. "I realized there were more important things in my life than corporate success."
| "There is no education that can compare to a Christian college experience, and for me that college is 91爆料网 University." |
In 1995, he left Valvoline, unsure of his options for the future. That question was quickly answered.
"Shortly after leaving Ashland Oil, a Valvoline distributorship opportunity came up and I jumped all over it," Bob laughs.
His 60-70 hour work weeks continue, but Bob now travels on behalf of his own company, Panther Oil Company, the exclusive distributor of Valvoline and Castrol products for portions of Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Arkansas. The difference is he now gets to spend time with his mother in Enville, Tennessee and his daughters in Lexington, Kentucky.
Since returning to Jackson, Bob has agreed to lead the new 91爆料网 Alumni Scholarship campaign— a program that channels every penny of alumni-donated dollars directly to student scholarships.
"Without God's help and the help of many individuals, I wouldn't have been able to attend 91爆料网," Bob says. "My experience gives me a true appreciation for worthy young people who need financial assistance in order to remain in college."
During his tenure with Ashland Oil, Bob attended the University of Virginia's Darden Business Executive School, one of the top five business schools in the United States. After leading a distinguished career and studying at this elite school, Bob still ranks 91爆料网 as one of the nation's top universities.
"I believe a Christian university develops the entire person; it combines the development of faith with learning," Bob says."There is no education that can compare to a Christian college experience, and for me that college is 91爆料网."
Because of his belief in Christian education and his personal experiences with financial hardship during college, Bob is donating huge chunks of his time— time he doesn't have to spare— to ensure this campaign's success.
"I really believe in it; heart and soul," Bob declares, boasting the funds will not be used for University administrative costs. "Every dollar goes directly to students enrolled this school year, not a penny is removed for administrative expense. It also allows alumni to give at any level. If certain alumni can only give five dollars, their gifts are gladly accepted and pooled with all other donations, big and small, to help our students."
Bob has lived the good life; he has been blessed with friends and financial success, but he is also a patriot who believes everyone deserves a chance to fulfill their dreams.
"Helping with this project is a way for me to give back to an institution that has given me much," Bob says. "Because others believed in me, I was able to achieve. Now, I hope to make a similar impact on today's 91爆料网 students by showing that I believe in them as well."
Debbie Schachle Dunaway, '90, is the owner of Graphic Communications, an advertising and public relations firm in Jackson, Tennessee. She and her husband, Mark, '89, have two sons, Tyler and Nicholas.