South Carolina Ping
Posted on 12/07/2005 9:53:20 AM PST by Salo
Carroll Campbell dead at 65 Heart attack cause; Republican pioneer suffered from Alzheimer's
BY JOHN FRANK The Post and Courier
COLUMBIA-Former Gov. Carroll Campbell, one of the most beloved politicians in South Carolina history, died of a heart attack at 8:49 a.m. today. He was 65.
Campbell, who has battled Alzheimer's disease for six years, was moved in August to a residential care facility at Lexington Medical Center near Columbia.
The facility's staff found the governor in his bed at 7:50 a.m. and it appeared he was not breathing. An ambulance arrived at 8 a.m. and EMS workers tried to resuscitate Campbell.
He arrived at the adjacent Lexington Medical Hospital 45 minutes later, where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Todd Crump.
At 10:50 a.m., Former President George Herbert Walker Bush, a close family friend, called to offer his condolences.
A family friend confirmed the details for The Post and Courier.
Campbell grew up in Greenville and served as a congressman for eight years before becoming only the second Republican to be elected governor of South Carolina since reconstruction.
His legacy not only includes strengthening the state's GOP but also luring the German automaker BMW to the Upstate and restructuring state government.
Campbell, who has been battling Alzheimer's disease for six years, was moved from his Georgetown County home into a residential care facility in early August. He was at the Carroll Campbell Place, an Alzheimer's care center, at Lexington Medical Center.
Campbell's wife, Iris, has been his primary caregiver while the two lived at Debordieu, a beach community near Pawleys Island. She and her two sons, Carroll III and Mike, agreed that moving Campbell into the care facility was in his best interest.
Campbell announced in October 2001 he was suffering from Alzheimer's, which brings on memory loss before eventual and incurable dementia.
Since then he has kept a limited public schedule but has avoided most public speaking.
In June 2004 his family said that he was hit especially hard by the death of former President Reagan, who was Campbell's political ally and who also suffered from Alzheimer's.
At the time, Campbell's son Mike said that his father still enjoyed playing golf and following South Carolina politics each day in the newspaper. While Campbell occasionally surprised his family and friends with a lucid memory, his ability to find the right word or remember names had become a growing struggle.
The news of Campbell's death shocked the state's political community.
Attorney General Henry McMaster called Campbell "a true giant in the life of our state."
"Carroll Campbell's legacy of leadership and accomplishment is one to which many will aspire but few will surpass," the Republican said in a statement. "He will be truly missed."
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Campbell was a visionary.
"Today, South Carolina has lost one of its most admired public servants," he said in a statement. "Governor Campbell has always been a hero to me, a man of courage and conviction that brought pride to our state."
Contact John Frank at (803) 799-9051 or jbfrank@postandcourier.com.
Carroll A. Campbell
Biographical Overview
-- Born: July 24, 1940 in Greenville, South Carolina -- Died: December 7, 2005 -- Political Party: Republican
Education
-- McCallie School - Chattanooga, TN -- University of South Carolina
Occupations
-- Real estate broker -- Businessman -- South Carolina Campaign Chairman for Ronald Reagan - 1980, 1984
Major Events and Accomplishments, 1st Term, 1987-1991
-- September 11, 1987 - Pope John Paul II visited Columbia -- January 27, 1988 - Jean H. Toal became the first woman ever to be elected to the South Carolina Supreme Court -- June 7, 1988 - The General Assembly passed the Beachfront Management Act to control coastal development -- September 21-22, 1989 - Hurricane Hugo hit South Carolina -- May 30, 1990 - President of the University of South Carolina James B. Holderman resigned amidst charges that he misspent USC funds -- July 18, 1990 - Operation Lost Trust began to unfold with the US Attorney for South Carolina's announcement that several South Carolina legislators were under investigation for receiving bribes or using drugs -- August 24, 1990 - South Carolina reserve and National Guard units were activated in support of Operation Desert Shield
Major Events and Accomplishments, 2nd Term, 1991-1995
-- 1991 - Governor Campbell appointed a citizen's panel to make recommendations on state government reform -- 1991 - South Carolina's last major independent bank, the South Carolina National Bank, merged with Wachovia Bank of Winston-Salem, NC -- December 21, 1992 - Former Governor Richard Riley was appointed US Secretary of Education -- 1994 - Governor Campbell signed the South Carolina School-to-Work Transition Act
Other Government Positions
-- SC House of Representatives, 1970-1974 -- Executive Assistant to Governor Edwards, 1975 -- SC Senate, 1976-1978 -- US House of Representatives, 1979-1987
Other Accomplishments, Honors, Distinctions
-- Campbell managed the campaign of the first Republican to be elected mayor of Greenville -- Campbell attended night classes in political science while a US Representative
Web Resources
-- Biographical information - US Congress -- Listing of records available at SC Archives and History Center
SC Ping, please.
SC Ping, please.
ping
My mother has this disease and it is terrible. God bless the Campbell family. South Carolina has lost a great leader and Statesman.
Carroll A. Campbell
Later, Cuz.
May he rest in peace....from a native South Carolinian.
Alzheimer's at 59? That is young...very sad.
That's WAY too young. RIP.
Prayers to his family.
The state of South Carolina owes this man a debt of gratitude for his contributions. Prayers for his loved ones.
Requiescat in pace.
I thought the same thing.
Rest in Peace.
God bless your mother and God Bless you.
I had two aunts with this disease and saw how terrible it is. In many ways perhaps harder on you than on your mother.
A great loss to our beloved state. God bless and comfort the Campbell family.
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