Our Arklahoma Heritage: The Legacy of Doak Campbell - A journey from rural Arkansas to university president

On November 16, 1888 Doak Campbell was born in the community of Tate in Scott County, the second of six children born to Edward and Elizabeth Campbell.

Named after his uncle, Samuel Doak, young Campbell's journey from the rural South to becoming a significant educational leader began here.

Upon graduating from high school, Campbell became a licensed teacher. However, his passion for learning led him to attend Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia. There, he distinguished himself as an intercollegiate debater, orator, and distance runner. In 1911, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music and speech, serving as president of his class.

On May 28, 1913, Doak Campbell married Helen Gray Smith. Their union was blessed with two children, Doak S. Campbell, Jr. (born February 28, 1915) and Elizabeth Caroline Campbell (born November 12, 1920). .

Central College for Women in Conway

Campbell's career as an educator began as the Superintendent of Columbus State High School. In 1916, he transitioned to teaching chemistry at Central College for Women in Conway where he later became president. The school, under his leadership, transformed into a two-year junior college.

During the late 1920s, Campbell pursued advanced studies at George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University, earning a master's degree in 1928 and a Ph.D. in 1930. He joined the college's faculty and later became the dean of the graduate school in 1938.

Tragically, Helen passed away in 1938. Their children,  , Doak S. Campbell, Jr., (February 28, 1915) and Elizabeth Caroline (November 12, 1920) were adults when their mother died but remained close to their father. Helen's death at the end of a 25-year marriage had Campbell looking for a change in his career and he accepted the presidency of Florida State College for Women.

Edna Simmons

Campbell married Edna Simmons (1897 – 1978) in 1941, just two months before he was named President of Florida State College for Women. She earned her B.S. from Peabody College in 1928 and her master’s degree from Peabody in 1932. Before her marriage, she served as a teacher, principal, and supervisor in the Mississippi public schools and as a faculty member at Martha Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia. At the time of her marriage, she was the director of the training school of Wilson Teachers College in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Campbell fulfilled her responsibilities as the wife of a college president with insight and vigor. In 1948, when the McIntosh House was moved from downtown Tallahassee to the campus, she became the first President’s wife to live in an official Florida State University President’s House. An enthusiastic gardener, she was responsible for planting the oldest trees and plants on the property and worked diligently on campus beautification.

An avid athletic fan, especially of football and baseball, she restored an old athletic field for new use. Mrs. Campbell was active in the American Association of University Women, local church, and garden clubs. She was a gracious hostess, welcoming

Under Campbell's leadership, the institution saw a significant expansion, driven by an enrollment boom of World War II veterans and the G.I. Bill. In 1947, the college transitioned into Florida State University, becoming coeducational and growing in both staff and facilities.

During his presidency, Campbell faced pressure to integrate Florida's university system following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. He strongly opposed the admission of African-American students to Florida State, a stance that has been the subject of much debate and criticism. Critics have noted his suppression of liberal editorial policies at the university's newspaper and his resistance to any breach of racial segregation.

Campbell retired on June 30, 1957, but remained in Tallahassee as president emeritus of Florida State until his death on March 23, 1973. He left a lasting legacy, including supporting the construction of a football stadium named in his honor, Doak S. Campbell Stadium. In 2004, the field was named after football coach Bobby Bowden, making the official name

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In June 2020, a student petition called for the removal of his name from the stadium due to his opposition to racial integration. FSU President John Thrasher requested a review of the issue, which remains unresolved as of October

Campbell's papers and correspondence are housed in the Special Collections of Strozier Library at Florida State University, offering insight into the life and career of a man who played a pivotal role in the history of higher education in Florida.

Campbell's second wife, Anne, died in 1978 and the couple is buried at the Roselawn Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florda.