Douglas G. Campbell

Douglas Graves Campbell was born in Wichita Falls, Texas to Henry and Pearl Campbell, the fourth of five children. At an early age, he took up the trumpet but switched to horn when the band director said that he could wear a uniform and march with the band if he did. The rest, as they say, is history. Doug found his calling with the horn and had a natural gift for playing it. He graduated from high school at 16 and went on to study music at North Texas State Teachers College (now University of North Texas). At 19 he advanced to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he continued his study of the horn, earning a Master’s Degree in Music. With his master’s requirements nearly complete, he moved to Washington D.C. to play with the National Symphony Orchestra in the 1945-46 season, returning to Eastman to complete his degree in the summer of 1946. At that time, the National Symphony was not a reliable source of support, so he accepted an offer to teach Horn and Music Theory at Michigan State University (then called Michigan Agricultural College) in 1946 at age 21. While teaching at MSU, he returned periodically to Eastman to pursue continued education, eventually completing his PhD in 1957. While at Eastman, he met a lovely harpist named Lauralee Burke, and they were married in 1953. Doug and Lauralee had 3 children – Cheryl, Doug, and David. As a family they enjoyed sabbaticals in Europe, traveling, camping, sailing, and 10 summers at the New England Music Camp in Maine, where Doug taught horn and Lauralee taught harp.

Doug was a valued teacher and mentor at Michigan State for 45 years, sending many talented students into the world to perform and teach. During his time in East Lansing, he and Lauralee played in the Lansing, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Symphonies. As a founding member of the Richards Woodwind Quintet, he performed on tours across the United States and Canada, including the Quintet’s Carnegie Hall debut in 1968. He felt enriched by his work with the Richards Quintet and their international performances, especially their tour to China as culture representatives for the State of Michigan in 1984. Playing for President Jimmy Carter at a 1977 White House State Dinner was a particular honor for Doug and the Quintet. He enjoyed all things French horn, including hosting and attending workshops and gathering with fellow horn players from around the world to talk about and play the horn. The Horn Fandango that he started with Neill Saunders became a model for horn workshops around the country. In honor of Doug’s “major contribution to the art of horn playing,” he received the Punto Award from the International Horn Society in 1996. Doug also highly treasured his lifelong friends and colleagues from the School of Music at Michigan State.

Later in his career, Doug met fellow hornist Ellen Henrikson, and they married in the summer of 1983. Upon his retirement from Michigan State University in 1991, they moved to Albuquerque with their young son, Neill. After only a few years in Albuquerque, the family moved to Eugene, Oregon and later Kansas City, Kansas following Ellen’s career. In each new city, Doug continued to participate in the local classical music scene, playing in recitals, subbing in area orchestras, and teaching private students, while spending most of his days at home with Neill. They spent their summers at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, where Doug taught horn for 25 years. Grilling for friends and family and sailing on the lakes brought him great joy. Following Ellen’s unexpected passing in 2011, Doug returned to East Lansing, Michigan to be near family. There, he reconnected with longtime Michigan State friends and regularly attended concerts at the MSU College of Music.

When a person lives to be nearly 101, they have experienced quite a bit of history. Doug lived through the Depression, the Dust Bowl, World War II, McCarthyism, the Moon Landing, the invention of television, computers, and so much more. His memories of his many years are fascinating tales. Doug will be missed by all who knew him. He had a sharp wit and a wonderful warm sense of humor. He is survived by his 4 children: Cheryl (Jim), Doug (Lori), David (Miriam), Neill (Lindsay), 4 grandchildren: Adam (Jennifer), Chad, Aaron (April) and Matthew, 11 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and the Henrikson family of Minnesota.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 11:00 am at Okemos Community Church, 4734 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864.