For years, Tracy Campbell has collected antique signs and memorabilia. And through that pursuit, he has come to see himself as preserving the history of his community in Minden, La.
Now, he is part of that history.
Campbell, a 1999 graduate of Southern Arkansas University, was named Minden Man of the Year earlier this spring. “It was very humbling. When you think of some of the guys who have made a difference in this town, I don’t feel that I’m worthy of that kind of recognition,” said Campbell. “It was really nice.”
He currently works as a partner and financial advisor with Merriweather Wealth and Planning, a financial planning company in Minden. He is also a business owner in Minden. However, his initial career course was in media.
Campbell received his bachelor’s degree in mass communications-print journalism in May of 1999. Two weeks later, he married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer. Shortly after that, he and his wife moved to Minden, where he became editor of the local newspaper, the Minden Press-Herald.
The couple moved to Hope, Ark., for a brief period, where he led the marketing department at a community college before returning to Minden in 2003. It was around that time that Campbell began to pursue his passion for old memorabilia, particularly vintage advertising signs and logos.
“I was at my uncle’s house in Sarepta, and I noticed a sign lying on his carport under his truck,” Campbell related. The old sign was for Kuhn’s Climatized Paints, and it piqued his interest. “I asked him what he was going to do with it.” It turns out his uncle was only using the sign to catch oil as it leaked from his truck. Campbell, however, had an idea for a better use for it.
“He told me I could have it if I could find something to replace it with. So I brought him another piece of scrap metal.”
However, Campbell’s interest in older items began when he was just 12 years old. It all started when I was a kid,” Campbell explained. “I would ride my bike to garage sales, buy stuff, and put it in my closet. Then, I would sell it to make a profit. ”Campbell’s love for the older advertising signs and merchandise began slowly while living in Minden. “I started with like five pieces, then I had 10. Now, I probably have around 300 different items. “I just find it enjoyable. And it’s therapeutic,” added Campbell.
Campbell has kept many of the items he has found and restored. Other items he has sold. His hobby has also led to other opportunities. Recently, he appeared on the show “Hometown Kickstart,” which visits various towns each week in search of antiques and memorabilia. The program visited Minden for the series finale.
“I was a picker for that episode. I met the designers at a collector friend’s place in Cotton Valley, La., and helped them locate some raw materials for their projects,” explained Campbell. “It is interesting to see first-hand how those renovation reality shows are filmed.”
While Campbell loves preserving local history, he said SAU helped prepare him for wherever his career took him. “SAU has 100 percent prepared me. My time at SAU, especially in the journalism department, taught me how to communicate. One of the foundational things you have in life is to know how to communicate both in speaking and writing.”
While at SAU, Campbell also worked part-time in the Communications Center, which was the marketing office for the University. “My time in the Communications Center was beneficial. I got to hone my graphic design skills and my writing skills. Those skills carried me through every job I’ve ever had.”
Campbell’s wife, Jennifer, is the branch manager of the Minden branch of the Webster Parrish Library. She has learned over the years not to be surprised at anything Campbell might bring home.
“My family thinks it’s kind of funny,” said Campbell of his wife, his son Colin, who is now a junior at Louisiana Tech majoring in computer science, and his daughter Lily, who will be a sophomore in high school in the fall. “They say, ‘You never know what Tracy is going to bring home.’ They know to expect the unexpected,” he said with a laugh.
Recently, he brought home perhaps the most unique item yet – a 17-foot sign for the former Minden Motel.
“They know I like saving and preserving the local history. I’m kind of a caretaker for this stuff. I get to keep it and enjoy it for a little while, and then someone else can have it to enjoy it.”
