Kenneth B. Campbell, OBM

Kenn first became aware of the Clan Campbell Society in 1982. His wife Ruby was laid up for some time after crashing her car when a tie-rod broke, and someone gave her an old Highlander magazine which she found interesting. One thing she found was an advertisement from a local man, Bob Thompson, who sold Scottish things and she called him. It turned out that Bob was a Deputy Commissioner of the Clan Campbell Society and told her about the CCS and their planned trip to the 1983 Clan Campbell Gathering in Scotland. Kenn had visited Scotland the year before, but did not get to visit Inveraray so he wanted to go. He joined the Society, made the trip, and became an enthusiastic member of the Scottish community. The Inveraray Games of 1983 were the first highland games he ever attended.

In 1992 Louisiana Commissioner Jack Moore asked Kenn to replace him. It was a simple job at first as there were no games in Louisiana at that time. He just attended Scottish society meetings and kirkings with a pocketful of Clan Campbell Society brochures. Later Louisiana wound up with four games, which kept him pretty busy.

For many years, Kenn and Ruby hosted an annual "Crawfish Boil" at their home for Region 6 Campbells from far and wide. It was a much anticipated event and illustrated not only their Clan Campbell spirit, but the generosity of spirit they shared with our Campbell kinsfolk. They frequently had Campbell house guests from as far away as Scotland and from all points in between the three coasts of the USA.

After he retired in 1997, he volunteered to help then Editor Diarmid A. Campbell, Esq. with the Journal. Diarmid was using the old cut and paste method still popular at the time. Diarmid would type up all the text, cut it up, cut out the graphics and photos and paste all the pieces onto an 11 x 17 layout sheet for the printer to photograph. It was a very tedious and time-consuming job. Kenn had become familiar with desktop publishing programs at his work and knew it would save a lot of time and effort. So beginning with the Spring 1997 issue, Diarmid would send the text, pictures and graphics to Kenn who would then, in a first for a Scottish clan society, lay it out with Adobe PageMaker. Kenn retired as Journal Production Manager in 2017 and was recognized by the Clan Campbell Society Board of Trustees as Journal Production Manager Emeritus for his two decades of service.

In 2007 Kenn received the Clan Campbell Society (North America)'s President's Award for Meritorious Service for his years of service not only as a Commissioner, but also for his tireless work with the Journal.

Kenn received special recognition from His Grace the 12th Duke of Argyll for his creation of the excellent maps that appear in the three volume series, A History of Clan Campbell published by the Clan Campbell Education Foundation. He was treasurer of the Clan Campbell Education Foundation for six years.

Upon graduating from Baton Rouge High School, Kenn enrolled at Louisiana State University where he earned degrees of BSARE (Architecture) and BSCE (Civil Engineering). After service in the U.S. Navy, as an officer in the Civil Engineering Corps, he returned to Baton Rouge in 1956 where he practiced architecture and structural engineering until retirement in 1997. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects and served a term as President of the Baton Rouge Chapter. He was also a member and director of the Louisiana Architects Association.

He is a member of the Caledonian Society of Baton Rouge, Saint Andrew Society, and the American Camellia Society. He is an award-winning collector and breeder of camellias with over 200 varieties in his garden.

He is married to Clan Campbell Society (NA) Genealogist and Librarian Ruby G. Campbell, PhD. (better known to many CCSNA members as “Dr. Ruby”). They have two children, Karen and Neil, and a grandson Colin MacNeil Campbell.

Kenn Campbell was honored at the Inaugural Investiture Ceremony of the Order of the Bog Myrtle for a Lifetime of Service to Clan Campbell, the Clan Campbell Society, and the Clan Campbell Education Foundation. The Ceremony was held on the evening of October 21, 2023 at the Annual General Meeting of the Clan Campbell Society (North America) in Peachtree Corners, GA, USA.

Randy Seale, OBM (left) and Col Joe McD. Campbell, OBM (right), representing the Clan Campbell Society and the Order of the Bog Myrtle, present medallions and certificates of the Order of the Bog Myrtle to Dr. Ruby Campbell and Kenn Campbell for their many, many contributions, and nearly 40 years of service, to the Clan Campbell Society and Clan Campbell.

NOTICE: It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our esteemed kinsman Kenneth B. Campbell on March 17, 2026. Kenn was just 19 days away from his 96th birthday. 

OBITUARY:

Kenneth (Kenn) Bernard Campbell, born 5 April 1930 in Olla, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana, died 17 March 2026 at Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge. Kenn was the only child of Katie Taylor Campbell (1905 - 1996) and Willard Bernard Campbell (1905 - 1984) and the grandson of Benjamin Franklin Taylor (1862 - 1958) and Melissa Alice Flowers (1871 - 1951) and of John Posey Campbell (1868 - 1946) and Henrietta Wilhelmina Belanger (1869 - 1947).

Kenn and his parents moved to Baton Rouge in time for him to enter Baton Rouge Junior High. He moved on to Baton Rouge High School the following year. He had a keen eye for detail along with many artistic tendencies and graduated from LSU (Louisiana State University) with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering in 1952, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering the following year (1953). He practiced architecture with several local architectural firms, ending his career in partnership with the then nationally prominent Charles E. Schwing & Associates architectural firm programming, designing, producing construction drawings and specifications, and administering the construction of libraries, schools, banks, medical, and religious facilities.

His many interests included gardening. He was a member of the (now defunct) Men’s Garden Club, the Hemerocallis (daylily) Society, and the Baton Rouge Camellia Society - by far his favorite plant. He was also a member of the Camellia Society at all levels - regional (Gulf Coast Camellia Society), national, and international as well. He served as the editor of the Gulf Coast Camellia Society Journal for many years and participated in many camellia flower shows winning a number of ribbons and trophies for the various specimens from his garden.

Kenn was a duck decoy carver and won ribbons for his work, a stamp collector, a weaver of tartans on a historic loom, from early
years a rock hound who polished many of his finds and made jewelry for his wife. Kenn embraced his Scottish heritage. As a member of the Clan Campbell Society (North America), he served as a member of the Board, a member of the Clan Campbell Education Foundation Board of Directors, the layout manager of the 60-page Journal of the Clan Campbell Society (North America), and actively participated in Highland Games across the United States and Scotland as well. His affiliation with the Clan Campbell Society led to the friendships of several Scots who were instrumental in helping him trace his ancestry back to the 1700s and actually connected him to a living relative, Sir Ilay Mark Campbell of Succoth, 7th Baronet.

Continuing his interest in all things Scottish, Kenn was also an active member of the Caledonian Society of Baton Rouge, earning the (now defunct) prestigious Grant Award for Excellence in Service.

He was a avid LSU sports fan attending all home football and basketball games until he was no longer physically able to do so.

Kenn served his country in the U.S. Navy during 1953 - 1956 as Lt. Commander, J.G. in the Civil Engineer Corps as an Assistant Public Works Officer. He told of many instances where he left the base in search of a clear channel radio station where he could sit in his car and listen to the LSU football games.

Kenn is survived by his wife of 68 years, Ruby Guidroz Campbell, one daughter Karen Suzonne Campbell, one son Neil Colin Campbell, and one grandson Colin MacNeil Campbell.

Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 11000 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge from 10:00 - 11:00am on Saturday, 21 March 2026 with the service at 11:00am. Burial will be immediately following at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Camellia Society, 100 Massee Lane Road, Fort Valley, Georgia, 31030.

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Kenn was a highly respected and beloved member of the Clan Campbell Society. His loss is felt by his kinsfolk around planet. His legacy lives on in his works and deeds. 

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." "Hallowed Ground" by Scottish poet Thomas Campbell (1777–1844)

Ne Obliviscaris