Orville Campbell
Orville Campbell was one of Chapel Hill’s true characters: an enterprising publisher and record producer with a tough professional exterior and a passionate civic leader with a soft spot for his community. Campbell is widely quoted as writing, “If you’re here for a few days, enjoy it! If you’re here for a few years, make the most of it. If you plan to stay forever, help us to keep the spirit of the University and the community alive.” The man certainly walked his talk.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1942 and serving in the Navy, the former Daily Tar Heel editor started Colonial Press and Colonial Records, housed at 504 West Franklin Street. He funded the operations with revenues from the
big-band hit, All the Way Choo Choo, which he co-wrote about UNC football stand-out Charlie Justice. The Press printed the DTH and almost everything else produced in the Southern Part of Heaven. The record company cut many discs, two of which launched super-star careers. Campbell recorded Andy Griffith’s legendary What It Was – Was Football and George Hamilton IV’s break-out hit A Rose and a Baby Ruth. In 1954, Campbell led a group of investors in buying the Chapel Hill Weekly, the town’s paper of record, ensuring that town and gown had a locally produced source of news and views. The Weekly won more than 150 state and national awards under his ownership, which ended in 1987, and produced many fine reporters, editors and cartoonists in the process. The legendary Jim Shoemaker and
Pulitzer Prize-winner Jeff McNelly both worked there. An advocate for local journalism, Campbell served as the N.C. Press Association president in 1968.
Campbell was a fixture in the local community, present at almost every fund-raiser or campaign committee meeting in town. He was named Citizen of the Year four times for his efforts on behalf of local charities and candidates for local, state and national office. He almost single-handedly saved the YMCA, leading a campaign to raise $509,000 to retire the organization’s mortgage debt and set it on steady footing. Campbell was a member of the USS North Carolina Battleship Advisory Committee, which was responsible for establishing the
memorial in Wilmington. He also gave back to UNC, which he so loved. Campbell earned the Distinguished Service Medal from the General Alumni Association in 1985 and two years later was bestowed the Distinguished Service Award by the UNC School of Medicine.
For his tireless promotion of Chapel Hill and the University, his support of local businesses and his boundless energy in supporting
community causes, we proudly induct Orville B. Campbell into the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Business Hall of Fame.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1942 and serving in the Navy, the former Daily Tar Heel editor started Colonial Press and Colonial Records, housed at 504 West Franklin Street. He funded the operations with revenues from the
big-band hit, All the Way Choo Choo, which he co-wrote about UNC football stand-out Charlie Justice. The Press printed the DTH and almost everything else produced in the Southern Part of Heaven. The record company cut many discs, two of which launched super-star careers. Campbell recorded Andy Griffith’s legendary What It Was – Was Football and George Hamilton IV’s break-out hit A Rose and a Baby Ruth. In 1954, Campbell led a group of investors in buying the Chapel Hill Weekly, the town’s paper of record, ensuring that town and gown had a locally produced source of news and views. The Weekly won more than 150 state and national awards under his ownership, which ended in 1987, and produced many fine reporters, editors and cartoonists in the process. The legendary Jim Shoemaker and
Pulitzer Prize-winner Jeff McNelly both worked there. An advocate for local journalism, Campbell served as the N.C. Press Association president in 1968.
Campbell was a fixture in the local community, present at almost every fund-raiser or campaign committee meeting in town. He was named Citizen of the Year four times for his efforts on behalf of local charities and candidates for local, state and national office. He almost single-handedly saved the YMCA, leading a campaign to raise $509,000 to retire the organization’s mortgage debt and set it on steady footing. Campbell was a member of the USS North Carolina Battleship Advisory Committee, which was responsible for establishing the
memorial in Wilmington. He also gave back to UNC, which he so loved. Campbell earned the Distinguished Service Medal from the General Alumni Association in 1985 and two years later was bestowed the Distinguished Service Award by the UNC School of Medicine.
For his tireless promotion of Chapel Hill and the University, his support of local businesses and his boundless energy in supporting
community causes, we proudly induct Orville B. Campbell into the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Business Hall of Fame.