A sense of ‘duty’

Board names stretch of highway in honor of fallen patrolman

From horror to honor.

Such was the designation of a stretch of highway – about 20 minutes east of Perry at the Pulaski/Houston County line on Georgia 247, north of Hawkinsville, south of Kathleen – at the meeting of the Georgia Board of Public Safety, Wednesday in the Miller-Murphy Howard Building of the Georgia National Fairgrounds.

Horror.

It – that area – was the place where Florida State Patrolman Charles Campbell and businessman Frank Meyers were murdered in November 1974; reported as a “grisly site” in the Nov. 28 issue of The Houston Home Journal.

Honor.

In view of dozens of officers from both Georgia and Florida – retired and active – members of the family, several representatives – including Representatives Larry Walker III and Shaw Blackmon, the latter of which drafted legislation for what was to come and both of which helped push it through – and guests, that stretch was named: “F.H.P. Trooper Charles Eugene ‘Gene’ Campbell Memorial Highway.”

“I’ll begin my remarks by telling you a story,” said retired Capt. Ronnie Angel, who was among many who spoke. Earlier Georgia State Patrol Lt. Hamilton Halford, who was the main speaker and was credited with championing the effort – from pushing to planning to perfection – said of Angel: “From the time Campbell was deemed missing and the search kicked off (approximately 500 law enforcement officers and volunteers were involved in the three-day search for him, according to the HHJ article), he had fingers on everything in Georgia.” (There were also 10 others who were involved in the case in attendance.)

“The actual story that I want to tell you,” Angel said, getting choked up briefly shortly after he started, “is a very long series of events that occurred over a long series of time. A long period of time and required the extended effort of a lot of law enforcement officers and a great number of law enforcement agencies. and the dedication and duty they perform.

“Reviewing this entire story would require a considerable period of time, and it would involve many events that occurred throughout the United States. Most of them, as far as our purpose here, are unrelated and unnecessary to cover and explain in detail those events. Therefore, I have taken the opportunity to eliminate and minimize many of the details associated with this story and instead will talk to you about the events that occurred here in Georgia and Florida.”

Angel went on to talk in detail about all the different segments of law enforcement that came together in the search for Campbell, Meyers and their murderer, Paul John Knowles. At the beginning of his talk, he emphasized Campbell’s story was about “duty”. He continued to reiterate that was the “message” he wanted to ensure was conveyed to all.   

“Charlie Campbell sacrificed his life. He did so and he did all he could do. He could do no more and we should have expected no less. He fulfilled his duty. He was indeed a professional law enforcement officer. a credit again to his department, Florida Highway Patrol, and to the true meaning of what duty really implies.”

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col. William Hitchens gave a little background on Campbell. He was born on Sept. 21, 1939, Hitchens said, and grew up in Florida. He served in the Army and Army Reserve before joining the Perry Florida Police Department. He joined the Florida Highway Patrol in 1965. He had served nine years before his murder.

“Charlie’s legacy extends far beyond his years in uniform. He and his wife Betty were married in 1959 and raised two children, Charles Edward and Elaine. Charles followed in his father’s footsteps with a career in law enforcement, as did Charlie’s grandson, Gary.

“Three generations of the Campbell family have answered the call to serve others. That is a legacy worth bringing recognition. More than half a century has passed since Trooper Campbell was in the watch. But time does not diminish the value of life devoted to service, nor does it lessen the responsibility to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“To the troopers and law enforcement officers here, Charlie reminds us that our responsibility to those who came before us does not end when their watch does. We honor them not only through ceremonies like this, but through how we serve our communities and uphold our professional standards each day.”

Col. Gary Howze of the Florida Highway Patrol said Campbell’s badge number, 423, had been retired.

“It’s also not lost on us,” he said. “In every black and tan (the colors of the FSP cars) front of the roads in the sunshine state, Charlie’s right there in their mind.”