Jack Campbell, former STAR Advertising Manager, dies

Published 8:46 am Monday, June 17, 2019

Jack Campbell, owner of Folsom Printing Co., and former advertising director for the Elizabethton STAR died early Friday morning after a brief illness.

Campbell, 78, was diagnosed earlier this spring with cancer and had been undergoing treatment at the Mountain Home Veterans Hospital.

Campbell before becoming owner of Folsom Printing Co. had served as a long-time advertising representative and later as ad director for the STAR. He served under both Publishers Frank Robinson and Charlie Robinson.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

A Hampton native, Campbell was a graduate of Hampton High School and had served in the U.S. Army.

When he began his newspaper career, Campbell did so as an advertising rep, soon working his way up through the ranks. His job was selling words to readers and readers to advertising.

Like so many career newspaper people, Campbell liked the smell of ink and reveled in seeing a special edition roll off the printing press. “He not only was a good salesman, but he was a good layout and makeup person,” said former co-worker Shirley Nave. “Jack was among the best when it came to designing an ad. He would spend hours on a double-truck auto ad. He was very artistic and knew how to catch the eye of the reader.”

Nave described Campbell as laid back and easy going with a good sense of humor. “In all the years that I worked with him, I never saw him get upset or angry. He was good to work with and for. Jack never thought of himself as superior to those who worked with him,” said Nave.

“Jack was a good man, loyal to the company and his clients,” Nave concluded.

Campbell was a man of few words, and could work two or three hours on designing an ad, and never say a word.  Give him a cup of coffee and a cigarette, and he was satisfied.

Another former co-worker, Judy Richardson noted that Campbell loved fried apple pies and shuck beans, which she often shared with him.

“If I wanted to tell someone something and didn’t want anyone else to know, I could tell it to Jack, knowing that he would take it to the grave with him. He was one of the most trusted friends I ever had,” said Judy.

“He and I could just about finish each other sentences, we had worked together so long,” Judy shared.

His career covered the years when most of us had no idea what Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram was. Contacts were made in person or via the telephone. Traditionally, advertisements were comprised of three different mediums: television, radio and print.

In my last conversation with Campbell during a visit to the STAR early last fall, he lamented the fact that technology had changed newspapers, print shops, and even the photography business. “It’s sort of left me and you behind and a lot of other people without a trade,” he said as he walked out of the newspaper office, perhaps for the last time.

After his career at the STAR ended, he continued his printing career at Folsom Printing Company, an old business in the city, that did offset and letterpress printing.

Campbell was retired, but still liked to hang out at his print shop. He and his wife also owned several properties, which they managed.

He enjoyed meeting up and having coffee with friends each morning at McDonald’s. He and his wife, Bea, usually spent the winters in Florida, where he enjoyed boating and being on the water. It was while he was in Florida this past March that he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Campbell also enjoyed old cars

Jack and Bea’s family included two sons, Jackie and Jason and their children.

He attended Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church,

Tetrick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Campbell. Services are on page 11A.