Ben Nighthorse Campbell was long known as “Senator” (two terms), a reflection of the respect he earned in elected office. Before that, as Representative (three terms), he was recognized for his bootstrap background and steadfast independence. To many, he was simply Ben – genuinely glad to meet you, a good listener whose straightforwardness commanded as much respect as his official titles.
“Irreverent, blunt and independent,” the New York Times said of him in its obituary on Friday. To that, we’d add creative and accomplished.
If drive can spring from early-life challenges, Sen. Campbell is an example: an alcoholic father, time in an orphanage and minor scrapes with the law. Then came the discipline of military service. Young Japanese-American friends introduced him to judo, while early lessons from his father in working silver unlocked his creative side, eventually leading to decades of crafting highly appealing jewelry.
A teenager, or someone in their 20s who is struggling, could look at Sen. Campbell’s beginnings and then his successes and think, I could do that – at least a part of that – as well.
Thanks to the Senator, two Ute tribes and the Navajo Nation have water – wet water, not the written promise of water – in Lake Nighthorse. Sen. Campbell championed the Animas-La Plata Project to Colorado lawmakers who were, to varying degrees, unfamiliar with or unconcerned about water rights in the state’s southwest corner, or aware that reservation lands had been allocated without water. He brought credibility to the argument that water was due. Rallying the delegation was critical, particularly as California legislators pushed back, opposing additional upstream storage.
When you see slurry-carrying firefighting aircraft overhead, credit Sen. Campbell for the refueling and refilling station at Durango-La Plata County Airport. His legislation brought that capability close to home, ending the less efficient reliance on Montrose or Grand Junction.
After his military service, college-level education became vital to Sen. Campbell. As the only American Indian in Congress, he leveraged his position to champion tribal-focused education and cultural enrichment, securing funding and support for cultural and educational institutions – especially those serving Native American communities and rural areas. This included Fort Lewis College, the National Museum of the American Indian and the Sand Creek Massacre site.
One FLC earmark, initially for three years but extended to five, funded the Center of Southwest Studies, exposing Indigenous students to museum operations, including library and archival work. Some 40 students benefited, many of whom went on to hold significant museum and research positions at regional and national institutions.
That funding was well-suited to promoting cultural appreciation and providing employment opportunities through the Center and its existing resources. Other FLC support included the Campbell Child & Family Center, which provides a quality, nurturing environment for the young children of faculty and staff.
A major motorcycle rally over Labor Day weekend? Sure – why not? Sen. Campbell enjoyed riding Harleys for the freedom and mechanics of the machine, much as he appreciated trucks – old and new – built to work. He was the only member of Congress to hold a commercial driver’s license, which he used to drive the White House Christmas tree over 5,000 miles from Meeker to Washington, D.C. (Herald, Jan. 4)
He was congenial with people who shared his interests and who were not lobbying him for this project or that – a nonstop reality in Washington. Nor, when riding, did he have to think about raising money for the next election, another nonstop activity he said he did not enjoy, as others likely agreed. Riding was also something he and his wife, Linda Campbell, enjoyed together.
Motorcycle riding and jewelry making were likely welcome diversions from congressional pressures. Through his legislative work, including leadership on Indian affairs, his influence extended beyond the state to the national stage.
Sen. Campbell achieved a level of accomplishment few could have imagined, and his independence, vision and dedication continue to shape both his home region and the nation he served. Irreverent, blunt, independent, creative and accomplished – these qualities defined him and leave a lasting legacy.
