We appreciate articles and photos the Peninsula Daily News published about community leader Orville Campbell and the memorial event celebrating his life, as well as coverage local station Radio Pacific 1450 AM provided, examples of how local media provide information and the sense of community we need for the place we want to live, work and share with visitors.
I was fortunate to get to know Orville after he helped establish North Olympic Land Trust and my husband, Jim Mantooth, and I became volunteers.
He took on any role, from presidency to trucking blackberry cobbler to the organization’s StreamFest we hosted for a dozen years.
Always ready to laugh, especially at himself, Orville didn’t even seem to mind sacrificing his nice beige slacks after accidentally spilling berry juice on them.
He was so successful in making Elwha dam removal a win-win for his paper mill employer, fish, other wildlife and the community I often told him he could negotiate peace with North Korea.
Orville also worked tirelessly to speed up cleanup and restoration of the Ennis Creek watershed on Rayonier’s former mill site on the city waterfront.
He served on the city planning commission and city council.
He gave time to First Step Family Support services, Feiro Marine Life Center, numerous other groups, individuals he met with to provide listening and support and his family.
His 97-year life inspires us to make our community a better place and treat each other with the respect they deserve while enjoying becoming better people in the process.
Robbie Mantooth
Port Angeles