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Published Saturday, July 04, 2009 in Sports

Photo by Jeffrey Leo

Members of the family of longtime Peachtree Road Race participant Bob Campbell of Newnan, who passed away last October, reunited this weekend to participate in the annual event. Campbell was photographed following his first Peachtree in 1977 in the sports section of the Journal-Constitution.Standing with the photo are, front row:Fran Campbell, Bob’s wife of 53 years, Anna Hopkins, Susan Campbell, Sarah Haynes, Meg Campbell Haynes and Jim Haynes; Back row, from left:Taylor Haynes, Sean Casey, Carter Campbell and Lily Casey.

Family pays tribute to late Peachtree runner today

By Chris Goltermann

The Times-Herald

More than once, Susan Campbell and her siblings spent Independence Day morning standing in Piedmont Park with their mom, Fran, waiting with hundreds of others to cheer the sound of thundering feet as they neared the finish line of the annual Peachtree Road Race.

One runner in particular, though, brought Campbell the greatest amount of joy. That was, seeing her father, Bob, cross the line -- and most of the time within the first hour.

Robert P. Campbell ran in at least 10 Peachtree runs, starting with its seventh edition in 1977 at age 47. It was one of the more brutal Fourth of July outings among temperatures. At least 53 people were hospitalized for heat exhaustion and other injuries. The next morning, his picture made the front page of the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Sports section.

"My mom watched people rubber-legging into the crowd terrified that he wouldn't make it through ok," said Susan Campbell. "He did and cried at the end."

In the years that followed, Bob Campbell continued to keep a diary of his running experiences. He wrote that he was proud to have finished the event that first year without walking a single step all the way to that year's finish line area known as Central City Park. In early years, the precious commodity known as a Peachtree Road Race T-shirt, was only awarded to those who finished the race in under an hour.

"It was both fulfilling and a challenge for him," said Susan. "He ran a lot in the 70s. He didn't run in a lot of races, but he really enjoyed running in Atlanta and Newnan. It was important to him to do it in under an hour and get that t-shirt."

Nowadays, all participants receive a road race shirt. "That wouldn't have been challenging enough for him," said Susan.

Bob Campbell, who was a founding member of the Jaycees and served on both the Newnan Citizen Advisory Commission and the Chamber of Commerce after moving here in 1958, was also part of a group that in 1977 got the Newnan Chamber of Commerce to sponsor its own road race in Newnan on Labor Day.

Originally called the "Coweta Road Race" the event eventually changed titles to the "Newnan Festival Days Road Race" and to its current title "Sunrise on the Square." Last Aug. 31, more than 300 runners participated in the annual 5K event which is a fund-raiser for the Main Street Newnan program.

Bob Campbell died last Oct. 18, a year after suffering a stroke following some minor surgery. But it wasn't long after his passing that family members felt a desire to continue the Peachtree Road Race tradition he began in the late 1970s. So today, three of Campbell's four children, Susan, Meg Campbell Haynes and Carter Campbell, will be among 32 people that have formed a group called "Running for Bob," in his late memory. Today some, like Susan, will be running while other walk. Several other group members will be among thousands lining the course cheering, handing out water and/or Krispy Creme donuts.

"Most of us have run it before with him," said Susan Campbell. "We decided as a group that we'd like to continue running (the Peachtree) in his honor."

Today, thousands will be traversing the annual 10K course through Atlanta, taking the journey up what has been nicknamed "Cardiac Hill," some running, others walking among some 55,000 participants. Over the years, the Peachtree Road Race has become as much a tradition on July 4, as fireworks, parades and barbecues.

Maybe it's fitting that after last year's change in course finish due to the constant drought, today brings a return to the traditional finish line in Piedmont Park, where more than a few Campbells will be crossing.

This weekend is as much a chance for a reunion as it is an opportunity to run -- or walk. While Susan Campbell continues to live in Newnan with her husband Sean Casey and daughter, Anna Hopkins, family members arrived Friday from throughout the country to join Fran for an informal reunion. The Haynes, Meg, husband Jim and children Sarah and Taylor arrived from San Francisco. Susan and Meg's brother, Carter, arrived from Savannah.

Fran's nephew Greg Campbell and his wife, Amy, are also in town from Birmingham to participate in the event along with family friend Samantha Nelson. This time, grandchildren Brandt Campbell and Lily Casey will be among her co-cheerleaders with numerous family friends.

"We hope to make this an annual event," said Susan. "We've been inspired by his stubborn commitment to something that was hard but fulfilling for him, and his love of family and a good party."

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