I played with Bob in the Holy Name Band.  He  always was so cheerful and would pass it on with his enthusiastic greeting.  He was a very special man.  I will miss him and his music. 

   I had great admiration and respect for Bob Campbell. He was an important participant in our musician union meetings, with his quiet demeanor and great knowledge of the Roberts Rules of Order. We would always defer to his great wisdom in matters requiring dispute management and meeting protocols.
   On a more personal note, I will really missing seeing Bob around the community and at various events. He was approachable and always ready to engage with you on any number of topics. I sure will miss him.     Gary Falk    

So sorry to hear of Bob's passing. I've known him for many decades through the musical community. He is one of the kindest people I have ever known. Peace to his family.

I had the pleasure of meeting Professor Campbell in 1974 when I enrolled in one of his classes at the University of Louisville.  I enrolled in several additional classes with him in the undergraduate program and also in the graduate program.  Professor Campbell was the chair of my thesis committee and kept everyone on track including myself as I completed my MS in the Administration of Justice.

I also kept in touch with him through the Southern Police Institute's Alumni Association and always looked forward to seeing him at the yearly conference.  In addition, he would always attend the AOC graduation ceremonies twice a year and present one of the awards.  Professor Campbell represented the Southern Police Institute very well for many years and will be greatly missed by the faculty, staff, and alumni.

Professor Campbell,
Without a doubt you were the most influential instructor I had at the SPI. What I learned from you shaped the remainder of my law enforcement career. 

RIP Sir
Rick Shimer 
87th AOC

To Professor B. Edward Campbell: gentleman, musician, and educator - the "Mr. Chips" of the Southern Police Institute who influenced all who came through its doors. His service to the Institute and the University of Louisville is his tribute to a life well spent.

It is difficult to put your finger on what makes a great educator.  Is it the openness they present that gives you the feeling you can talk to them?  Is it the knowledge and wisdom they impart in the discussions of the classroom or the one on one you have with them after class or over a beer?  Is it the willingness of that teacher to always have time for you and listen to your thoughts?  Is it the kindness of that teacher that is expressed in spoken and unspoken manners and acts? 
B. Edward Campbell embraced these qualities and so much more as an educator.  He was a gentleman of the first order that possessed a passion for teaching that every master teacher enjoys.  His heart was for students be they undergraduate / graduate or police officers attending the Southern Police Institute. He was also a thoughtful and gracious colleague that often expressed his interest in you as a faculty member.  As a faculty member, you had no better colleague / mentor than B. Edward.
To know Ed, you quickly learned he was determined, and disciplined.  But you also learned he had a “twinkle” of mischief.  Sometimes you walked away from a conversation with Professor Campbell, in wonder, scratching your head.  He said what?  One of my favorite remembrances of Ed was a conversation he was having with a first day SPI student.  The student had a heavy southern state accent and Ed, in his kind fashion asked, “Well sir, where might you be from?”  The student looked a little puzzled, but responded, TEXAS sir.  Ed, looking straight at him, paused, and said, you mean TA-HAS.  Yes, that was Ed.
You are one of a kind Professor Campbell.  Thank you for being you.  God Speed


I was fortunate to have Professor Campbell as a instructor when I attended the 65th AOC.  He impressed me as a very intelligent and compassionate man.  Over the years, he became a friend.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.  He was one of a kind.

Marvin Bernhardy 
65th AOC


Professor Campbell was one of the first individuals I met in Louisville  when  I arrived to  compete for the Southern Police Institutes' Directors position in 1992. During my 20 years as SPI Director he was a great friend, colleague  and mentor. A unique American hero a WW2 veteran. He loved his students who attended SPI and the Justice Administration program of U of L. He demanded the best from them  but was always willing to give them and me guidance and help. He held a special place in his heart for the Southern Police Alumni Association and loved attending the annual conferences with his beloved wife Barbara . He was our last connection to the founders of the Southern Police Institute God Bless you Bob it was an honor to know you.  

I met Professor Campbell when I was a student in the 108th AOC .  It has been a pleasure getting to know him over the past 18 yrs.  I never came away from an encounter without learning something from him. I was always amazed at his vast depth of knowledge.  It will be my honor to make a donation in his name to one of the SPI Scholarship Funds.   Prayers of comfort to the family. 

It was my honor and pleasure to work with B Edward for nearly 20 years at the Southern Police Institute. Bob will always be remembered as a kind gentleman, a fun loving man of great humor and whit. He was filled with a unique mixture of knowledge and compassion. 

Professor Campbell overflowed with knowledge and capabilities developed over a lifetime.  His goal was to enhance others by increasing their compacity to locate new points of view.  He filled every instructional duty with great vigor and saw each student as a partner in a joint learning journey.

He once told me about his Navy career, he was a landing craft hero on D-Day. 

Robert Crouse, Associate Director, Retired, Southern Police Institute 

OBITUARY

Bobby Edward Campbell

14 September, 1926 – 14 November, 2020

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services