John Campbell

JOHN ALOYSIUS CAMPBELL

John Campbell, lumberman, civil servant, surfer, optimist and gentleman, died on October 19th, 2008, aged 67.

John Campbell’s journey from the rural countryside of Australia to the timbered lands of Humboldt County was an inspiring personal story which evolved from that of an adventurous youth to one of immigration, family, citizenship, logging, leadership and, ultimately, public service.

John Aloysius Campbell was born in Leura, New South Wales, Australia, on June 20th, 1941, and began his schooling at the Nattai Public School, a one-room school in Burragorang Valley. He thereafter continued his education at Manly Boys High School and at North Sydney Technical College, Syndey University. While living in Sydney, John became an accomplished surfer and was an early member of the Surf Lifesaving Association; the Australian tradition that would ultimately lay the groundwork for modern life-guarding. He completed military service with the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 1st Commando Company and afterwards set out upon an 18-month ‘walkabout’ through England and Europe (including a pioneering surfing stint in Cornwall) - a trek which ultimately brought him to the shores of the United States. Newark, New Jersey was his port of entry, a Norwegian freighter his vessel. In New York, John secured a job at the Australian Consulate General and worked on the Zambian desk but it was his ties to the New York Rugby Club and friends therein that would ultimately propel him West...

A Part of California History

Mr. Campbell moved to California and met and married Cynthia Carpenter in 1966. The Campbells returned to Australia for a brief period where he ran a restaurant and bar in Double Bay at 26 Cross Street. However, California called and the couple eventually settled in Scotia in 1969. John took employment at The Pacific Lumber Company.

When John signed on to The Pacific Lumber Company his hourly rate in the rail yard was $3.10. Over the years, he would serve in many capacities at the company, rising to Manager of Lumber Production to Executive Vice President of Forest Products in 1985 to President in 1989 to Chief Executive Officer in 1993 and ultimately, Chairman of the Board in 2001.

During his tenure at Pacific Lumber Company, John would come to be known for his vision and dedicated leadership to responsible timber harvesting. Under his direction, The Pacific Lumber Company would expand its business via the construction of Mills A and Fortuna and the acquisition of Britt Lumber while being propelled to the forefront of environmental protection. John oversaw the creation of a science-based Habitat Conservation Plan and a Sustained Yield Plan. He also worked with many organizations that supported the timber industry, including having served as a Member of the Board of Directors for the California State Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board for the California Forestry Association and the California Forest Products Commission, President of the California Forest Protective Association and Director of the Redwood Region Logging Conference. John prided himself in conducting business on a handshake.

While the broader public may remember John Campbell most for his instrumental role in the Headwaters Agreement of 1996, those who worked with him will likely also remember his dedication to employees. Around “PALCO”, he was regarded as an executive who had compassion for all workers. During the particularly tumultuous years that marked the rise of radical environmentalism up to the Headwaters Agreement, John remained both the ‘optimist’ and a gentleman’ despite the many travails and obstacles that abounded.

Upon his retirement from Pacific Lumber in January of 2003, John remarked that “the substance of a man is the ones and the things that he loves.” John was an avid outdoorsman, finding passion in deep sea and river fishing as well as hunting. He was a devotee of the ocean and all things wood. He was in constant appreciation of the natural world around him. But, more than anything, he loved people. As a naturalized citizen of the United States, John felt a strong civic obligation to give back to the community. It would be this sense of duty that would lead him to work as a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts of America, to serve as a member of the board for Redwood Memorial Hospital and ultimately to serve as mayor on the Fortuna City Council from 2006 until the time of his passing.

John’s enthusiasm for PALCO was only eclipsed by his love for family. He saw two sons born: Matthew in 1975 and Michael in 1977 (both with Cynthia). He took immense pride in seeing them grow up and attend the University of Notre Dame. He met and married his second wife, Margaret, in 1991, with whom he moved to Fortuna, California, in 2001. During the past three years, he took particular interest in his two grandsons, Colin and Ethan, born to Matthew and Molly Campbell. He also enjoyed a great friendship with Michael’s girlfriend, Kasi Boyd.

On Friday, October 24th at 11:00 AM, the family will host a ‘celebration of life’ gathering at the Fortuna River Lodge. Those wishing to make donations in lieu of flowers should be direct them in Mr. Campbell’s name to the American Cancer Society.

At his core, John was keen on life. In the words of an old swimming teammate, “John was a great bloke and lived life to the full. I can still hear his laugh and his phrase, ‘Let’s go troops’.”

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