A Man Called Fred . . . And What He Taught Me About Service

Fred Campbell was struck down by that pandemic of the 1950’s — polio.

During that decade about 250,000 people contracted polio; about 12,000 of them died of the disease. A vaccine eradicated polio, largely disappearing by the 1980’s.

As Fred lay in a hospital bed, he read a book, “A Man Called Peter”, written by Catherine Marshall about the life of her husband, Peter Marshall, a Scottish Presbyterian, inspiring preacher, and chaplain of the U.S. Senate.

Moved by the life of Peter Marshall, Fred decided to leave a career in insurance and become a minister in the Presbyterian Church. He left the hospital with braces on his legs and his arms and hands clasped to handles on metal crutches.

Fred was called to the Presbyterian Church in San Angelo, Texas. It was an innovative church — the kind that would not be afraid to hire a handicapped minister. The church sanctuary was round, a symbol of community and oneness. The Nicene Creed was replaced with a Native American text. The benediction was sung to the tune of Edelweiss from Sound of Music.

Fred was a “good enough” preacher salting his words with humor and hope. But, his forte was visiting parishioners. Maybe the insurance man in him never went away.

Fred would pull up in front of your house, driving his car with his hands. It was an arduous task to walk to the front door with those metal crutches and braces, but eventually he got there and asked if he could sit with you a spell.

The church grew, as did the love for Fred and his service to hundreds of people in the church and the community. His was a life of service.

That’s why one day I sought out Fred.

A part-time sports writing job for my local hometown daily newspaper in my junior year of high school started me on a career path of journalism. I eventually found my way into general assignment reporting, wrote an award-winning piece of journalism that elevated my work, and began editing the weekend edition.

I moved to a university town to earn a Master’s degree in journalism and took a job as an Associate Pastor for a church, working with youth, music, and education.