The blazing arrow descended from a twilight ski, making its way perfectly into a stack of wood prepared to ignite for the night's festivities.
Sure, every Boy Scout and parent there knew the "arrow" was attached to a wire cable, but it was a dramatic way to start a fire that would serve as illumination and dramatic effect for the night's Court of Honor honoring the achievements among Troop 381's members.
It happened in the backyard of a house on 57th Street in southwest Little Rock, not far from the United Methodist Church on Geyer Springs Road where my troop gathered every Monday. We were at the home of Jim and Katherine Campbell. Mr. Campbell served as chairman of the troop's committee and, while I can't remember if Mrs. Campbell filled any official role in the troop's adult leadership, her personality ensured she nonetheless met the requirements of encourager, giver, hugger and smile-maker.
I never knew, or have forgotten in the last 30 years, exactly how the Campbells got involved with the troop, but once a month their house played host to the committee of adults and Scouts who helped plan the activities of the troop. Boy Scouts were a formative part of my life as a young man, and their support breathed life into a troop that developed leadership and outdoor skills while opening doors to great adventures, whether at Cove Creek Scout Reservation near Damascus, on the Buffalo River, at Lake DeGray or at the life-changing Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, N.M.
Others took on the more direct, day-to-day adult leadership in the troop. Scoutmaster Al Mortier and assistants like Larry Glover, Curtis Granger and Bud Reeves dedicated huge amounts of time to bringing a rag-tag bunch of adolescents up with a sense of duty, responsibility, loyalty and morality. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell served as strong, positive role models in every way they touched the Scouting organization.
Of course, to a young Scout, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell seemed old from the first time I met them. If I'm doing my math right, Mr. Campbell would have been in her mid-50s by that time. Today, I'm just a few years shy of that mark. It doesn't seem that old now.
Between those monthly meetings, I saw the Campbells on Sundays at church, where they always had smiles and words of encouragement.
Remember back when kids on bicycles delivered afternoon newspapers? For a few months in 1977, I delivered the afternoon Arkansas Democrat to my customers as soon as I got home from school to find the bundle of newspapers dropped in my driveway. I remember the year because it was on that route that August I learned, from my great aunt, that Elvis had died in Memphis. I peddled home as fast as I could to catch the news.
The Campbells' house was about halfway through my route. Mrs. Campbell could often be counted on to provide a cool drink and short visit. Her buoyant personality showed a young kid how one lives a life full of joy. I always felt better having visited with her. And as a young teen I was impressed at how many ways she could find to incorporate the Razorbacks into the decorations of her home. They were big, big fans.Mr. and Mrs. Campbell loved our Scout troop. It's been 30 years since I earned my Eagle Scout rank but I can remember Jim and Katherine Campbell. Through kindness, humor, generosity, compassion and leadership, they provided strong role models for the young men who passed through Troop 381.
They are among the most memorable people in my life. Even three decades removed from being around them, I mourned Friday when I saw Mrs. Campbell's obituary in the newspaper. It lasted only a moment, however, because her influence immediately forced a smile as I recalled the kind of person she was.
Yeah, it's strange how a blazing arrow on a wire can stick in one's memory. Katherine Campbell, who lived the last 20 years or so in Lowell with family, was similar to that blazing arrow. For 93 years, she illuminated the world around her with her spirit and ignited people she touched to grow into something bigger, more significant, than they would have without her presence.
I'm thankful for people who give of themselves like she and Mr. Campbell did. Organizations like Boy Scouts, and the kids who benefit from these groups, could not thrive without them.
GREG HARTON IS OPINION PAGE EDITOR FOR NWA MEDIA.
Commentary on 09/15/2014