Campbell remembered as compassionate, visionary leader_11005
Posted: 1/07/05
Campbell remembered as compassionate, visionary leader
DALLAS–R.C. Campbell, whose tenure as president of Buckner Baptist Benevolences spanned 31 years, died at his home Jan. 3 following a brief illness. He was 83.
Best known for leading Buckner through one of the greatest eras of growth in the agency's 126-year history, Campbell was elected as the fourth president of Buckner in 1963 at age 41. He retired in January 1994.
“Dr. Campbell's vision set the stage for Buckner to enter into the 21st Century prepared to minister to the challenges facing children and families,” said Ken Hall, who succeeded Campbell as Buckner's president. “His is a legacy of a builder whose tools were compassion, vision and courage.”
| R. C. Campbell |
While Buckner experienced numerous milestones during Campbell's tenure, one of his favorite accomplishments was the 1975 relocation of nearly 100 orphans and staff from the Cam Rahn Christian Orphanage in Vietnam to Buckner Children's Home in Dallas. The relocation, which received worldwide attention, included a harrowing escape from Vietnam as the country fell into the hands of communists.
Prior to his election as Buckner's president, Campbell served as pastor of three Texas churches–First Baptist Church of Alvarado, First Baptist Church of Gainesville and Calvary Baptist Church of Dallas.
A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., he was a graduate of Texas Wesleyan College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Fort Worth, and received the doctor of divinity degree from Howard Payne Baptist University in Brownwood and a doctor of humanities degree from Dallas Baptist University.
Campbell was co-founder and president of the National Association of Homes and Services for Children and president of the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Southwestern Association of Child Care Executives and Texas Association of Services to Children.
He chaired an advisory committee for the Texas Department of Human Services and was a member of the White House Conference for Children and Youth, Dallas County Committee on Aging and the Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aging.
He was honored with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1995, and the National Association of Homes and Services for Children recognized his work with the 1992 Samuel Gerson Nordlinger Child Welfare Leadership Award.
Campbell is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marilyn Ruth McFadyen, who he met while attending Texas Wesleyan College in 1945. Other survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law Gayla and Howard Crain of Irving, and Robbie and Larry N. Lehman of Tioga; grandsons Robert Crain and Ken Crain and wife, Amy; and granddaughters Laci Bracewell and husband Bradley; Lori Huff and husband Heath; and three great-grandsons.
Campbell was a member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas.