Thomas McNamara Campbell

April 8, 1932 - February 18, 2021

Thomas "Tom" McNamara Campbell, 88, died Thursday Feb. 18, 2021 at St. John Medical Center of congestive heart failure. He was in the loving presence of family. A native Tulsan, Tom attended Marquette elementary, Wilson Junior High, and graduated from Central High School, where he excelled in track and cross country. He briefly attended Grinnell College in Iowa, then graduated with a degree in journalism from Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State, in 1954. While there he was the editor of the Daily O'Collegian and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He later earned a master's degree from the University of Tulsa. A lifelong learner, Tom completed his Educational Doctorate at TU in 1988. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956, stationed in Fort Ord in California and Fort Lewis in Washington. Upon discharge from the Army he briefly worked as a sportswriter at the Daily Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, returning to Tulsa to work for the National Jaycees as historian and editor of Future Magazine. During his stint with the organization he was one of three Tulsa Jaycees who proudly completed a 50-mile walking challenge set down by President John F. Kennedy. It was while he was with the Jaycees that he met and married his wife, Charlotte, who passed away in 2011. Tom worked at Cities Service Company for 18 years as a magazine editor and speech writer. He completed his career with 12 years in public relations at Tulsa Regional Medical Center. A highlight of his years there was working with his sister, Mary Wieman, writing "Dreams, Challenge, and Change," a history of the hospital commemorating its 50th anniversary. For years Tom was a principal author of the Tulsa Press Club Gridiron and also served as its chairman. In the 1970s his wife, Charlotte, organized the show's memorable cast parties. He was active in the Tulsa chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, winning Silver Link Awards and being named PR Professional of the Year for his work at Tulsa Regional. As a sideline, Tom enjoyed covering many high school football games for the Tulsa World, accompanied by his wife, who was the first woman to sit in the press box at Skelly Stadium. He joined the board of the Tulsa chapter of the American Diabetes Association in the 1980s after his 4-year-old grandson became diabetic. He also was involved with the TU Alumni Association for many years. In their retirement Tom and Charlotte traveled abroad several times with the Holy Family Cathedral Choir and also enjoyed numerous cruises. In recent years, Tom hosted several extended family vacations in Destin, Florida, Branson, Missouri, and Galveston, Texas. Tom's fondness for Destin led him to write two novels set in that community, with his love of football inspiring a third novel. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Charlotte, his parents, John W. and Marguerite Campbell, his sister Mary E. Wieman, and brother John W. Campbell Jr. He is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Mullen and son-in-law Scott Mullen, daughter Mary Camp and her children Jennifer, Jeffrey, Janina, and Jillian, daughter Barbara Campbell and son-in-law Jerry Hogan and their children John, Anne, Mary Claire, Rose, Mark, Catherine, and Lucy, along with four great-grandchildren. Tom will be remembered by all who knew him for his fun, and often quirky, sense of humor, which revealed itself in all manner of settings and situations. Tom Campbell's family would like to express appreciation for the devoted attention he received from caregivers at St. John's Medical Center. Visitation will be held at Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 24, followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at Holy Family Cathedral at 10 a.m. Thursday. Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151