Cloves Campbell Sr.

Cloves Campbell Sr.
Member of the Arizona Senate
In office
1966–1972
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
In office
1962–1966
Personal details
Born
Cloves Colbert Campbell

(1931-04-12)April 12, 1931
Elizabeth, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJune 19, 2004(2004-06-19) (aged 73)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Juanita Lucritia Campbell
​
​
(died 1994)​
Children4, including Cloves Jr.
Alma materArizona State University
ProfessionNewspaper operator

Cloves Colbert Campbell Sr. (April 12, 1931 – June 19, 2004) was an American Democratic politician and newspaper operator. He was the first African-American to serve as a member of the Arizona Senate, holding the position from 1966 to 1972.

In 1971, Campbell introduced a bill to the recognize King's birthday as a state holiday, but it failed to advance.[1] He originally served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 1962 to 1966. Campbell and his brother Charles purchased the Arizona Informant, a newspaper focusing on African-American coverage, in 1969. Founded in 1957, the Arizona Informant had not been published for several years at the time of the Campbells' purchase.[2] He was also head of the Phoenix chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).[3]

Campbell was born in Elizabeth, Louisiana. He was a graduate of Arizona State University (ASU).[2] He was married to Juanita Lucritia Campbell until her death in 1994. The couple had four children, including Cloves Jr., also a member of the Arizona House of Representatives and the publisher of the Arizona Informant.[4][5]

Campbell lost his eyesight due to diabetes in 1994. On June 19, 2004, he suffered a heart attack at the offices of the Arizona Informant in Phoenix. He was rushed to a nearby medical center, where he was pronounced dead at the age of 73.[6][7]

Namesakes in honor of Campbell include Cloves C. Campbell Sr. Elementary School in Phoenix and the Cloves Campbell Sr. Scholarship, offered at ASU.[3][8]

References

  1. ^ "King Holiday Bill Offered". Tucson Citizen. January 16, 1971. p. 4. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Whitaker, Matthew C. (February 12, 2007). "Cloves Campbell Sr. (1931–2004)". BlackPast.
  3. ^ a b "Roosevelt School District Continually Strives to Give Students a Quality Education". azhomes.com. March 5, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "Cloves Campbell Jr. wins State House Seat". Black Voice News. November 23, 2006. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "The Arizona Informant publisher speaks on race relations". Arizona PBS. June 9, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "Cloves Campbell Sr". The Arizona Republic. June 24, 2004. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "Cloves Campbell Sr., 73; Owned Arizona's Oldest Black Newspaper". Los Angeles Times. June 20, 2004. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "Cloves Campbell Sr. Scholarship". Center for the Study of Race and Democracy. Arizona State University. Retrieved November 4, 2020.