William Campbell Obituary
William "Mike" Campbell IV
08/04/1948 - 07/21/2024
William "Mike" Campbell IV, 75, went to be with the Lord on July 21, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Mike was born on Aug. 4, 1948, in Laurel, Miss., to Mary Hearn Campbell and Mike Campbell III. Mike graduated from Reagan High School in Austin, Texas, and played football at the University of Texas as a linebacker and was part of the 1969 National Championship team. He graduated from UT in 1970 with a degree in marketing and started his distinguished career in the energy industry spanning more than 40 years and hundreds of golf tournaments. His first job took him overseas for several years to work on offshore rigs in Southeast Asia for Dresser/Magcobar. He then went to work for Baker Hughes in oilfield sales in Houston for more than 35 years.
Mike met the love of his life, Becky, at Elan, a private club in Houston, in January 1979 and they were married on Aug. 18, 1979, and soon started their family in The Woodlands, welcoming three beautiful children. He loved to take the kids and their friends to the Frio River for tubing and dancing at Garner State Park, and going on family reunions to Fort Clark in Brackettville, Texas, where they would often take day trips across the border to Mexico.
Mike was an early member of The Woodlands Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School, was active in Bible study and made many lifelong friends. He was a great story teller with an infectious laugh, and a longtime member of The Woodlands Country Club where he loved to socialize and never met a stranger. As a former collegiate athlete, Mike loved to work out and keep a healthy diet. He would often wake his kids up before school with sets of jumping jacks and would pack their lunches with wheat germ. As the Parkinson's weakened his legs, Mike would often do push-ups, especially with his grandson, and was even found doing push-ups just a few weeks before he passed.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Collin Campbell. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Becky Campbell; daughter, Courtney Campbell; son, Mike Campbell V (Summer); grandson, Mikey Campbell VI; his twin brother, Tom Campbell (Kim); younger brother, Rusty Campbell (Betsy); and several nieces.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Hammline Lee for her dedicated care these past few years.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Aug. 9, at 10:30 a.m., at The Woodlands Methodist Church in the sanctuary at 2200 Lake Woodlands Dr. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Woodlands Methodist Church Foundation, The Houston Area Parkinson's Society or the charity of your choice.
The photo below is the first meeting with the director, Angelo Pizzo. Mike Campbell is second from the right .
Tom Campbell, Randy Peschel, Billy Dale, Angelo Pizzo, ???, Mike Campbell, Stan Mauldin
Bill Atessis, Corby Robertson, Don Burrisk, Bobby Wuensch, Mike Campbell , and Billy Dale
I trust this is received with the respect intended, but yesterday, while researching at the Stark Center, I discovered the complete manuscript of the film "My All American," which chronicles Freddie Steinmark's life. On page 59, a poignant "walk-on" dialogue exists between Freddie Steinmark, Mike Campbell, and Tom Campbell. Reading it brought back memories as I recalled Mike and his pivotal contribution to the 1969 national championship journey.
Mike and Tom Campbell looking for shoes with traction on the wet surface at Razorback stadium.
Horns Up!
For Mike Campbell