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'DAWG'
Early last Sunday morning, we lost a true giant of a man, George Douglas Doug "DAWG" Campbell. He was the closest of friends for over 40 years. His family and countless others mourn his passing.
"Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" This verse taken from the Book of Samuel, perhaps can relate to you the magnitude of our loss. Those words were spoken by King David, as he lamented the loss of one of Israel's greatest warrior generals.
That is the first thing that will always come to my mind, when I think of Doug. When there is trouble or danger, some people run away, while the strong of heart advance forward.
Many years ago, Doug came upon an incident, where he discovered a couple of friends in an altercation. They were in distress and it was obvious to Doug, that they might be seriously hurt.
With little if any thought for his own safety, he launched himself into the fray. I can still remember him relating to me, that the man he encountered was huge and powerful. As you can see in the attached picture, that while very tall and athletic, Campbell did not appear heavy or muscular. That was an error in assumption, that more than one opponent would discover, too late.
In the ensuing fight, Doug told me he managed to quickly get in the first punch or two. "I hit him hard right between the eyes and once on the jaw. I'm not sure if those first two punches even made him blink!"
In the end, Campbell was able to overcome this fellow, and rescue his friends. This came as no surprise to the brotherhood of men, who were lifelong friends of Doug. There is a saying among men about a man like Doug Campbell. "He is someone who has your back, you can count on him no matter what!"
Everyone one of us in the close circle of friends knew that instinctively about Doug. He was a man's man, who would be there when the going got tough!
I used Doug's brotherhood nickname for the title of this memorial. I will not relate how he received "DAWG." It is not a great secret, but among the men in his life, it has a special meaning. A nickname is kin to a rite of passage in the fraternity of men. You know you are not just accepted, you are revered.
Doug was the most athletic friend I have ever known. Tall, quick, graceful, and relentless, are some of the adjectives that come to mind. His metabolism appeared to ceaselessly be geared in high. He was always on the go, and waiting was not in his vocabulary or his method.
Several of his family and closest friends were able to gather for one last visit Saturday afternoon. The doctors had rendered to the family their belief that further medical intervention was not in Doug's best interest. It was a blessing that family and old friends got to have a few last moments with this extraordinary man, but in the end, his restless spirit again manifested itself.
When his loving wife Judy gave us the final notice of his demise, she noted that he passed to the other side as he had lived his life, "impatiently!"
The first time I saw DAWG play basketball was at one of the local league games. One of the first friends he met when he arrived in Nevada was Steve Guilliford. Steve worked for KW Harvestore, and that business sponsored many local men's and women's sports teams. Steve was another of the most gifted athletes that I have ever known. He asked Doug to come and play for KW, and that was the beginning of a life long friendship between them, until Steve passed a few years ago.
I can still remember that first game. At some point not long into the contest, a shot went up and bounced off the rim. The usual gaggle of players jumped en masse to attempt to rebound the basketball. I would love to have had a picture of my face and that of my friends in attendance that day, when suddenly there arose this splendidly thin figure. It was Doug Campbell. He didn't just rise slightly above the other players; he "soared" into a place that left us in total awe.
We would learn later of his many career exploits on the basketball court. Doug was a standout player in his hometown of Lyons, Kan. He was recruited by the legendary Gene Keady to play for Hutchison Junior College. His next stop was to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. That same graceful leaping ability put Doug in the record books. For many years he held the rebounding record at Arkansas.
His passion for sports never wavered. He loved to play golf, and was a dominant player for many years. It was his children and grandchildren in sports that gave him a lot of pleasure during the last years of his life.
Doug and I grew even closer during these years. As the old saying goes, "if I had a nickel...." Well if I had a nickel for every road trip we took to watch a game his kids played in, we would have a tidy sum for sure.
Those were some of the memories I will cherish the rest of my days. We must have told the same stories, had the same arguments, and rehashed the game on our way home, hundreds of times. We never tired of our friendship. We depended on each other -- enough said.
The golf group that was Doug's regulars, will all be there for this last visit. As Coach Testman said it best for the entire group, "he was simply a great-great friend."
I could go on with DAWG stories for hours, but if I did I am sure he would have been the first to say enough! I will close with these few thoughts.
I got a call from our former Sheriff Brian Atkinson, after he heard the news of Doug's passing. He, like so many others, remembered that Doug was always smiling and friendly. I have heard that response from so many that knew him.
His father (also George), once told us that no matter how he punished Doug for some infraction, it never seemed to bother him. He once grounded him from driving for some offense. "It didn't bother him, he just walked to school as if there was nothing wrong, and was still smiling. If you knew Doug Campbell, you knew that smile.
Doug's passing leaves a huge hole in the lives of his family and friends, but he also leaves behind so many memories. As long as there is a "Fat Pack," DAWG Campbell stories will be told around the campfire -- about this giant of a man.