John R. Campbell
agronomist · academic administrator
- June 14, 1933 · McDonald County
- November 17, 2018 · Columbia
- 85 years
About John R. Campbell
John R. Campbell, 85, American dairy scientist and academic administrator.
Explore other notable deaths in 2018 or deaths in November 2018.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know John R. Campbell?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|John Roy Campbell (June 14, 1933 – November 17, 2018) was an American dairy scientist and university administrator who was a professor of dairy science at the University of Missouri from 1960 to 1977, was professor, Associate Dean and Dean of Agriculture at the University of Illinois from 1977 to 1988, and was professor at Oklahoma State University from 1988 to 1993, serving as University President from 1988 to 1993.
Early years
John Campbell was born June 14, 1933, to Carl and Helen Campbell in his maternal grandparents' home in McDonald County, Missouri near the town of Goodman. He was the first member of his immediate family to graduate from high school.
Receiving a scholarship from Sears, Roebuck & Co. inspired him to enroll in the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with honors in 1955. During his time in college, he met Eunice Vieten, who had also been raised on a Missouri dairy farm.
Career
Military service
Campbell had joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), while in college, which obligated him to a two-year stint in the regular army. Before graduation, he received a fellowship to earn a Master of Science degree in Dairy Science from the Missouri University School of Dairy Manufacturing (MU). Then he spent one year serving in the Army Reserves, before serving two years of active duty with the 7th Artillery Division of the regular army. When he completed his tour of duty, he returned to UM and earned a PhD in 1960. Campbell also joined the Army Reserves and served in the Field Artillery for the next 22 years, becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and Battery Commander. In 1983, the U.S. Army awarded him its Meritorious Service Medal.
Teaching
Campbell joined the MU faculty immediately after receiving his PhD and rose through the academic ranks even as he performed his military obligations, becoming a full professor in 1968. He remained at MU until 1977, teaching classes and writing three books. He was then successfully recruited by the University of Illinois to serve as Associate Dean and Director of Resident Instruction for its College of Agriculture. He was credited with establishing a new and aggressive program to recruit, recognize and support high-caliber students who wished to pursue careers related to agriculture and relevant professions. He named the scholarship fund, Jonathan Baldwin Turner (JBT) Agricultural Merit Scholarship Program.
Campbell was appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois in 1983. He demonstrated innovation, dedication and cooperation with people, both within the College of Agriculture and outside. He led a fund drive that raised $61.2 million to construct five new facilities, a time that his UI colleagues called "...a golden era".
University President
On August 1, 1988, Campbell was appointed as 15th President of Oklahoma State University (OSU), where his focus still featured international involvement and inter-university partnerships and expanded distance learning. There were no major initiatives during this period. He resigned the presidency in 1993, saying that he wanted to resume teaching in the College of Agriculture and writing.
Retirement
Campbell resigned from OSU in 1999 and moved back to Columbia, Missouri. He served as a Consultant-Evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission/North Central Association and also served on the National University of Natural Medicine's Board of Directors from 1998 to 2013. He even wrote a novel, hoping to improve public perceptions of higher education. Dry Rot in the Ivory Tower ... A Case for Fumigation, Ventilation, and Renewal of the Academic Sanctuarypresented his views on changes needed in the higher education system.
Personal life
On August 7, 1954, Campbell married Eunice Vieten. They have two daughters and one son, who predeceased him.
Campbell died in Columbia on November 17, 2018, where he was buried with military honors. The cause of death was not given, but his obituary indicates he had been ill for several years.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Articles & News
Reported coverage of John R. Campbell; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about John R. Campbell on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Campbell
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 7, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from John R. Campbell's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of John R. Campbell's birth?
- A.June 17, 1935
- B.June 14, 1930
- C.July 14, 1933
- D.June 14, 1933correct
John R. Campbell was born on June 14, 1933.
Source: Early years section
2.Where was John R. Campbell born?
- A.Columbia, Missouri
- B.Chicago, Illinois
- C.McDonald County, Missouricorrect
- D.Stillwater, Oklahoma
John R. Campbell was born in his maternal grandparents' home in McDonald County, Missouri.
Source: Early years section
3.What organization provided the scholarship that inspired John R. Campbell to enroll in the University of Missouri-Columbia?
- A.Jonathan Baldwin Turner Foundation
- B.Sears, Roebuck & Co.correct
- C.Higher Learning Commission
- D.The U.S. Army
A scholarship from Sears, Roebuck & Co. inspired John R. Campbell to enroll in the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Source: Early years section
4.What military honor was awarded to John R. Campbell by the U.S. Army in 1983?
- A.Meritorious Service Medalcorrect
- B.Purple Heart
- C.Distinguished Service Cross
- D.Legion of Merit
In 1983, the U.S. Army awarded John R. Campbell its Meritorious Service Medal.
Source: Military service section
5.How many books did John R. Campbell write while teaching at the University of Missouri until 1977?
- A.Threecorrect
- B.Four
- C.One
- D.Two
John R. Campbell remained at the University of Missouri until 1977, teaching classes and writing three books.
Source: Teaching section
6.What was the name of the scholarship fund established by John R. Campbell at the University of Illinois?
- A.The Campbell Agricultural Scholarship
- B.The Golden Era Academic Fund
- C.Jonathan Baldwin Turner (JBT) Agricultural Merit Scholarship Programcorrect
- D.The Missouri Dairy Science Grant
John R. Campbell named the scholarship fund the Jonathan Baldwin Turner (JBT) Agricultural Merit Scholarship Program.
Source: Teaching section
7.In what year did John R. Campbell become Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois?
- A.1980
- B.1983correct
- C.1977
- D.1988
John R. Campbell was appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois in 1983.
Source: Teaching section
8.How much money did the fund drive led by John R. Campbell raise for the University of Illinois?
- A.$50.5 million
- B.$61.2 millioncorrect
- C.$75.8 million
- D.$80.0 million
John R. Campbell led a fund drive that raised $61.2 million to construct five new facilities at the University of Illinois.
Source: Teaching section
9.When did John R. Campbell serve as President of Oklahoma State University?
- A.1993 to 1999
- B.1977 to 1983
- C.1983 to 1988
- D.1988 to 1993correct
John R. Campbell served as the 15th President of Oklahoma State University from 1988 to 1993.
Source: University President section
10.What was the title of the novel written by John R. Campbell?
- A.The Golden Era of Agriculture
- B.The Dairy Scientist's Journey
- C.Dry Rot in the Ivory Tower ... A Case for Fumigation, Ventilation, and Renewal of the Academic Sanctuarycorrect
- D.Reflections of an Administrator
John R. Campbell wrote a novel titled Dry Rot in the Ivory Tower ... A Case for Fumigation, Ventilation, and Renewal of the Academic Sanctuary.
Source: Retirement section
11.When did John R. Campbell marry Eunice Vieten?
- A.June 14, 1955
- B.August 1, 1958
- C.November 17, 1956
- D.August 7, 1954correct
John R. Campbell married Eunice Vieten on August 7, 1954.
Source: Personal life section
12.On what date did John R. Campbell die?
- A.August 7, 2013
- B.November 17, 2018correct
- C.June 14, 2015
- D.December 1, 2018
John R. Campbell died in Columbia on November 17, 2018.
Source: Personal life section
13.What military rank did John R. Campbell achieve while serving in the Army Reserves?
- A.Major
- B.Lieutenant Colonelcorrect
- C.General
- D.Captain
John R. Campbell served in the Field Artillery for 22 years, becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and Battery Commander.
Source: Military service section
14.Which institution did John R. Campbell serve on the Board of Directors for from 1998 to 2013?
- A.Higher Learning Commission
- B.National University of Natural Medicinecorrect
- C.Oklahoma State University
- D.University of Missouri
John R. Campbell served on the National University of Natural Medicine's Board of Directors from 1998 to 2013.
Source: Retirement section
15.John R. Campbell was the first member of his immediate family to achieve what milestone?
- A.Graduating from high schoolcorrect
- B.Earning a PhD
- C.Serving in the military
- D.Writing a book
John R. Campbell was the first member of his immediate family to graduate from high school.
Source: Early years section
16.What organization did John R. Campbell serve as a Consultant-Evaluator for after leaving OSU?
- A.The Missouri Dairy Association
- B.The National Academic Senate
- C.The Higher Learning Commission/North Central Associationcorrect
- D.The U.S. Department of Agriculture
John R. Campbell served as a Consultant-Evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission/North Central Association.
Source: Retirement section
People who died on November 17
Related People
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for John R. Campbell →Advertisement
