Cloves Campbell Sr.

Cloves Campbell Sr., Recognized as one of the state's greatest and most powerful Black leaders, co-owner of the state's oldest and largest Black newspaper, died Friday after a heart attack in the offices of his beloved Arizona Informant. He was 73. He lost his sight to diabetes 10 years ago. He got up every morning at 6:30, had breakfast and then a secretary would come pick him up and take him to the office. Campbell was an advocate for improving the quality of life in segregated neighborhoods and was a champion for the accomplishments of minorities. He overcame poverty and segregation, eventually becoming the first African-American in the Arizona Senate. He took office in 1966, after serving four years in the House. Campbell and some of his nine siblings came to Arizona from Louisiana because of his father's illness in April 1945. However, his father died and two years later his mother perished. Orphaned at age 14, Campbell along with five of his nine brothers and sisters finished high school and college while supporting themselves. The family lived near Jefferson and 15th streets, when Blacks and Hispanics were forbidden to live north of Van Buren Street. Campbell never left his community, titling his 2001 memoir, "I Refused to Leave the 'Hood." Campbell first ran for the Senate in 1960, but lost by 50 votes. Two years later he won election to the House. He recalled being ostracized by other lawmakers. Of all his accomplishments in the Legislature, Campbell was most proud of two pieces of legislation he sponsored. One required milk and bread to be labeled with expiration dates. The other required textbooks in Arizona schools to include the achievements and contributions of Blacks and other minority groups. He also was proud of the role he played in getting two community colleges, South Mountain and GateWay, built in Phoenix. A former football standout at Phoenix Tech High School and Phoenix College, Campbell went to work at Central Arizona Light and Power Co. (which later became APS) as a night janitor while completing a degree in physical education at Arizona State Teachers College, now Arizona State University. Unable to get a job teaching, he continued working as a janitor after graduation. When APS decided to use contract laborers for janitorial services, Campbell protested. Instead of losing his job, he was promoted to meter reader, which gave him the opportunity to discuss issues with other residents of his neighborhood. Campbell retired from APS as the company's community affairs representative in 1988 and began focusing all of his energy on publishing the Arizona Informant, which he purchased in 1969. The paper has become one of the largest weeklies in Arizona. Campbell often recalled when they bought the newspaper how mainstream newspapers wrote only about Blacks getting into trouble. Campbell's mission was to tell the good news about his community, especially to show high school sports heroes and valedictorians succeeding. The Informant built its reputation by focusing on local people doing real things. Now the governor, attorney general and mayor of Phoenix all have it on their desks and Campbell's mission endures on the front page. Campbell loved to tell jokes—Hopefully you were fortunate enough to hear one of his jokes. He leaves to cherish his memory his: children, Rosalyn, Debra, Carol (Eddie), Cloves (Lanette) and Carlton; grandchildren, Ansel, Stephanie, Tiffany, Brittany, Chanette and Cloves III; great grandchildren, Ansel III, Autumn and Amier; one sister, Carol Campbell-Hurd (Fred); three brothers, Roland (Eleanor), Donald (Doris) and Charles; and a host of nieces and nephews, along with a host of friends and all of Phoenix. Visitation: Friday, June 25th, 5 to 8 PM, Tanner Chapel A.M.E., 20 S. 8th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, June 26th, 10:00 AM at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1401 E. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85034. Cemetery: East Resthaven Park Cemetery, 4310 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, AZ.