Boxing: Round 2

Before I begin the next round of "boxing" I need to take care of a few housekeeping items. First of all, the picture posted previously did not match the article quoted. The picture with the article was not as good as the one posted. In that picture my dad is third from the left and Uncle Don is third from the right. Also, at the time of posting blogsI may not have an appropriate picture to go with the article. Should I find one I will add it to a post. You may want to check "old" posts to see if any pictures have been added. I hope you are enjoying "The Old Peanut Bag".

At the age of three we lived in Springfield, Missouri on Della Street. I do remember playing with boxing trophies that Dad had won. Great toys for a three year old. Since we lived in Springfield Dad would still go visit the 449 Club, see what was going on and give some pointers to young club members. It seems I remember the 449 Club was on Boonville street, south of Commercial and possibly across the street from Pippin (?) Jr. High. Whether this is accurate or not I don't know. This location seems to stand out because on some occassions Dad would take my cousin Mike Walsh and I with him. (Mike is Aunt Anita's son and one day younger than I) We would watch older boys hit punching bags, jump rope, shadow box and occassionaly get in the ring and spar with one another. A pair of children's size boxing gloves appeared at home (birthday? Easter? Christmas?) and Dad began to teach Mike and I some boxing basics. We learned how to make a fist, hold our hands up, jab and punch. We got so good with our skills that one night, Mike and I were in the ring of the 449 Club in a boxing match. The boys at the club had a good time watching us "mix it up" especially when we chased each other around the ring. In all the action, Mike was knocked down, hit the mat and started to cry. Dad picked him up and raised both of our hands as winners.
From time to time at home Mike and I would try to "recreate" the moment for aunts, uncles, Grandpa & Grandma Bear in our living room on Della. They too enjoyed the part where we chased each other in circles. -30-

Golden Gloves

The information contained in this entry is some that I have wanted to share for a long time. However, my knowledge of Dad's boxing is pretty limited. I remember playing with some of Dads trophies when I was small, seeing some pictures in a scrapbook, going with Dad to the Springfield Boy's Club when I was 3-4 when he would watch some of the kids work out. Dad also talked about his boxing experience but I don't recall a lot of details. He was also a big fan of boxing when I was growing up, especially Cassius Clay/Mohammed Ali.

I have Aunt Colean and Grandma Rita to thank for most of the material I'll present. Aunt Colean sent me some pictures and information from Uncle Don's boxing notebook. Thanks for the help and here goes.....ding, ding! Round One

My Dad and his oldest brother Don boxed for the 449 Club in Springfield, Missouri. Uncle Don boxed in the 160 lb. novice class and Dad boxed in the 135 lb. novice class. From what I remember seeing in articles they had matches against boxing clubs from other towns. Locally their matches were held at the Shrine Mosque, which is located east of the square on St. Louis street. The "Campbell Brothers" were prominent in their class in 1949 and 1950. Their biggest accomplishment being the first boxers from Springfield to win at The Star's Golden Gloves tournament of Champions at Kansas City. Dad always said he was the first since his match was before uncle Don's. From what I know about boxing matches like this the lower weight classes went first with the heavyweight class being last. The headlines with picture from a newspaper article reads: CAMPBELL BROTHERS WIN GLOVES CROWNS.

The article from 1949: "These are the five amateur boxers who carried the Springfield Newspapers' colors into last night's windup action at the Star's Golden Gloves tournament of champions at Kansas City, and two of them emerged with titles. It marks the first time Springfield has had winners at Kansas City. The fighters standing , are Charles Jones, Don Mobley, Donald Campbell, winner in the 160-pound novice class, Charles Ferry and Jimmy Campbell, winner in the 135 pound novice class. The boys were coached and trained at Kansas City by Bob Lee, left, and W.E. Ary, kneeling."

Aunt Colean writes in her letter, "When they won the Golden Gloves they were honored with a luncheon by the Lions club. C.E. Russel, who owned the club, bought each of them a new suit. Don wore his to get married."

Eventually Dad and Uncle Don went to college on boxing scholarships. Uncle Don went to SMS for a year and Dad went to Poteau Junior College (now Carl Albert Community College) in Poteau, Oklahoma.

It was interesting to note in the articles and pictures from Aunt Colean that Dad was listed as Jim Campbell, James Campbell, Jimmy Campbell and Jimmie Campbell. Mom told me you could tell where people knew Dad from by what they called him. Hmmm, seems like I can identify with that.

More rounds of boxing memories will follow, but this is a start. -30-