Been in Yazoo City, Mississippi, I am a retired ad exec and a former Chairman of MOCA. Now I”m in a second career as a fine artist. I was honored this year by being given the Lifesaver Award by the Virginia Beach SPCA and named as an Outstanding Eagle by the Boy Scouts, both of which I had served as a longtime board member. I enjoy creating art and videos, gardening, dancing and travel.
About William T (Bill) Campbell
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Meg and I have been married for 55 years. We have two married sons who both live in Northern Virginia. T and Janice live in Manassas, while Graham and Katie live in the village of Aldie. They are expecting our first grandchild. A daughter to be born in December.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I retired from an advertising agency I founded with two other partners many years ago. Although now defunct, it was for a long time the largest in the area and, I believe, one of the most creative. I truly enjoyed working with so many talented people and even got the chance to do a little artwork from time to time. When I retired, I decided I could do that full-time. I’m living the dream.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
If at all possible, find a job doing something you really enjoy. If not, follow your passion in your hobbies. Building a positive attitude is the main ingredient in enjoying your life.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Hopefully, a better artist than I am today. I need to work on that.
William T (Bill) Campbell & Our Community
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
There are so many – Cobalt Grille, Coastal Grill, Eurasia, Pacifica, Atlantic on Pacific… all not far from home.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived here 52 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
It would have to be Morgan Davis, former president of TowneBank, who now sings and plays piano most Tuesday nights in the Raleigh Room at the Cavalier Hotel.A born entertainer, I love to watch him work the crowd.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The effect of the ocean and our myriad of waterways combined with the culture of a large, cosmopolitan city.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would invite the author John Grisham, who also hails from Mississippi, because I would love to understand his creative process. And he could afford to pick up the tab when we lunched on our delicious local seafood at Dockside.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Who doesn’t love Ted Lasso?
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Although a writer for much of my career, I am a terrible typist and constantly have to revise the mess I’ve written. Thank God for spell correct, yet sometimes it makes what I say nonsensical
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My life here, the effect of friends and family. To me, the glass is always half full.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
As an artist, my friends at The Artists Gallery; as a person, my wife. (But I do wish I hadn’t bought her that cattle prod.)
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Beach. Garden. Paradise.