William Campbell Obituary

Honorable William M. Campbell, Jr. BEAUFORT, SC - William Marion Campbell, Jr. passed peacefully on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at his home on Cat Island in Beaufort. He was born July 11, 1938 in Raleigh, NC, to the late Myrtle Beach Campbell Cotty and the late William Marion Campbell, Sr. Bill grew up in Richmond, VA and Laurinburg, NC and graduated from Dreher HS in Columbia, SC. He attended the Citadel and earned his BS, MBA and JD from the University of South Carolina. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives representing District 72 in Columbia, was a Special Prosecutor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office, entered private practice as a partner in the law firm of Cotty & Campbell and then was elected as a Judge of the Family Court for the SC Fifth Judicial Circuit where he served on the bench for 11 years. An active member of the legislature, Bill was a leader on many issues. He was the primary author and floor leader for legislation creating the statewide Pre-trial Intervention program and the juvenile career criminal law. He was the lead author and floor leader for the Tidelands bill, the Radioactive Waste Disposal and Transportation Act, the Congaree Swamp resolution and the Bottle Bill. In recognition of his extensive involvement in passing South Carolina's tidelands act, Bill was appointed to the South Carolina Coastal Council where he served for many years. He was named the 1975 Legislative Conservationist of the Year by the SC Wildlife Federation and the ACLU of SC presented him with the 1979 Civil Libertarian Award honoring his work in the state legislature. In addition to his life in public service, he held a variety of other jobs. After college, he worked in sales for IBM, taught data processing at Midlands TEC, sold heavy construction equipment and was manager of administrative services for Richtex Corporation. Bill's passion for the environment and conservation was exemplified by his efforts to save Congaree Swamp from logging. He was a member of the original group formed to preserve this piece of unspoiled hardwood forest for posterity. He was the founding member of the Columbia Audubon Society and invited the Southeastern Director of Audubon to visit the swamp where it was reported he heard the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, thought to be extinct. He was the president of the Environmental Research Center that conducted the Environmental Inventory of Kiawah Island prior to development of the island. Bill spent his retirement years in his beloved Lowcountry, racing Hobie Cat sailboats in the river, fishing in the marshes & ocean and birding in the ACE Basin. He was eager to share his knowledge on a wide array of subjects and loved taking friends on outdoor adventures. He was a charismatic figure and never met a stranger. He had many passions throughout his life but his love for the natural world, civil rights, the due process of law & fairness for all were paramount. He led the most interesting life and left a positive impact on the state of South Carolina. Bill is survived by his wife of 31 years, Susan Hilfer and her family, his step-brother William Cotty (Amelia) and his family, his first wife, Gloria Douglass, many cousins and a multitude of dear friends. A celebration of his life will be held on July 8th at 2pm at the Sanctuary Golf Club on Cat Island, 8 Waveland Ave, Beaufort, SC. Please come and hear stories of his life and bring your own to share. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coastal Conservation League, the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, the Hilton Head Humane Association or any other environmental protection or animal rescue organization of your choosing or the ACLU of SC. Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston