Norman A. Campbell

Norman A. Campbell (Beta Epsilon)

Grand Regent: 1972-1974

From the History of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity (2011) by Michael Cournoyer and Kali Weaver

Written by Matthew LaCroix

Norman Campbell was born in Pawtucket, RI on January 21, 1936. Prior to enrolling at the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Norm was first introduced to Kappa Psi by the pharmacist he worked for, Brother Thomas N. Simpson, a Beta Epsilon initiate from 1920, and his son David Simpson, also a Beta Epsilon initiate from 1953. Norm enrolled at the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy (now housed at the University of Rhode Island) in the fall of 1953. Norm recalls the positive impressions he had of the Kappa Psi Brothers in Beta Epsilon. Norm was lead through the rush and initiation process by many collegiate Brothers that would later go on to be leaders in the profession and the Fraternity. Among these leaders include Brother Dr. Ron Gautieri, a long time GCD at Beta Omega, and Brother Dr. Herb Carlin, the first person to be President of both the American Pharmacists Association and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  The date of Norm’s initiation into Kappa Psi, May 4, 1954 is a date generation of Beta Epsilon Brothers are able to rattle off with little thought. Norm served the Chapter in many ways during his college career including holding the offices of Historian and Regent. One of the high points during this time was a chapter visit by Grand Regent Nicholas W. Fenney. Norm was the chapter Historian, and in showing some things don’t change, the largest panic of the event was ensuring a good picture was captured so that it could be published in The MASK. During his time as an active collegiate brother of Beta Epsilon, the chapter continued its tradition of recruiting future leaders in pharmacy and initiated Brother Dr. Paul Pierpaoli, a past president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

At the completion of his time at the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Norm worked as a registered pharmacist at Simpson Pharmacy. During this two-year period before enrolling in an MBA program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Norm married Mary Hodde on Sept 7, 1957. While working on his MBA in Madison, Norm became involved with the Beta Psi Chapter of Kappa Psi. A Brother from Beta Psi had noticed the Kappa Psi letters on his class ring and asked if he was married. Norm replied in the affirmative, even though the question seemed strange. This led to supervising many parties at the Beta Psi house as it was the policy of the time that married couples had to supervise events on campus. Norm and Mary were regular participants in these events during their time in Madison.

At the completion of his MBA, Norm accepted a position with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston, MA as an Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Professional Relations. During the time spend at MCP, Norm had continued and grew in his involvement with Kappa Psi. Norm became the Grand Council Deputy for Mu Chapter, and was able to learn much of the Fraternity’s oral history from his office mate, Past Grand Regent Heber W. Youngken, Sr. With the urging of Brother Youngken, Norm ran for the position of Grand Historian at the 32nd Grand Council Convention in Atlanta, GA in 1963. Norm continued to want to serve the Fraternity and in 1965, in San Francisco, he again ran for the position of Grand Historian, with this campaign managed by Mu initiate Donald Floriddia, Norm was successful in attaining this office.

During this GCC, Norm had the opportunity to have a conversation with another Kappa Psi legend in Dr. Frank H Eby. Dr. Eby encouraged and made Norm promise to continue to work towards the office of Grand Regent and gave Norm his Grand Officer lapel pin.

During the 1967 GCC, Norm was successful in his campaign to win the office of Second Grand Vice Regent and moved to First Grand Vice Regent in 1968 with the death of Grand Regent Walter R. Williams. He continued in that office until 1972. During the time he worked at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, he was promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Administration and completed a law degree from the New England School of Law.

In fall 1969, Norm once again returned to Madison to start work on his Ph.D. in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Administration). This led to Norm returning to his alma mater, in July of 1970, as a visiting Associate Professor and Assistant to the Provost. The following year, Norm accepted a permanent position with the University of Rhode Island where he served as Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Administration from 1971-1981. During the 1972 GCC, Norm was elected to serve as Grand Regent. With this office reached, and a promise fulfilled, Norm worked at returning Brother Eby’s Grand Officer pin 8 years later at the Beta Omega 50th Anniversary.

In 1981, Norm completed his service on the Executive Committee of Kappa Psi. This did not mean that he was taking a step back from the Fraternity, however. Norm was the chair of the Advisory Committee from 1979 to 1993, and has once again taken on that role as of 2010. Also, Norm had other missions within the Fraternity whenever the call came. One such call came from Past Grand Regent William R Smith in the summer of 1990. Norm was working the bench as a relief pharmacist at an independent pharmacy, something he had done during his entire career. Brother Smith asked if Norm would be willing to work on creating a foundation which could be used to help support education expenses. Norm took on this challenge and on February 16, 1993 the Kappa Psi Foundation was incorporated. The new foundation was granted Section 501(c) 3 status and the new foundation board, with Norm as the founding president, started its quest to raise funds to give to Kappa Psi brothers in the form of scholarships. Norm continued as president of the foundation through 2004 and continues to serve on the Kappa Psi Foundation Board.

The activities Norm led in Kappa Psi are just a start of the activities that he has been involved in. Norm was an influential member of the steering group that led to the creation of the American Society for Pharmacy Law. Norm was a charter member of this organization, and held the office of President from 1980-1982. During the 2011 APhA annual meeting in Seattle, WA, Norm received the Joseph L. Fink Award from the American Society of Pharmacy Law, the highest honor given by the society.

Norm was also an active member of the pharmacy professional groups. Norm first joined APhA during his time at the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy. This active membership he has maintained during his entire professional career. Norm felt, with its mission of representing all of pharmacy and pharmacists, that it was a group that could encompass and advocate for the entire profession. Norm is an active reviewer for the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association and has served as a chapter advisor for APhA-ASP and several other appointed and elected offices. Norm is an active member at the state level serving on the council of administrators for 8 years, including one year as president. Norm was the Editor of the Rhode Island Pharmacist Magazine from 1979 to 1990. In recognition for his service to the profession, Brother Campbell has received the Rhode Island Pharmacists Association Lifetime Achievement Award and the Professional Fraternity Association Career Achievement Award.

Norm’s commitment to the profession of pharmacy is substantial but not to be over looked is his commitment to the community he lives in. Norm has been an active member of the Narragansett Lions Club. The Narragansett Lions club is the 3rd largest chapter in the United States, and the 5th Largest in the world. Norm served as president of the Narragansett Lions Club, among many other offices, in 1980-1981 and received the highest honor bestowed by the Lions club, the LCIF Melvin Jones Fellow in 1997. Norm is an active member of the Narragansett and South County community serving on several boards and having held many different appointed and elected positions. In 1979, the town of Narragansett named Norm as a “Knight of the Rockingham Arch” symbolic for outstanding community service. These opportunities are but a few of the ones Norm was involved in which stretch from the Narragansett little league to serving on the governor’s task force on drafting the Rhode Island Controlled Substance Act.

In 2001, after teaching 30 years of pharmacy students at the University of Rhode Island, Norm accepted the honor of Emeritus Professor and Ambassador of the College of Pharmacy. While they did manage to have Norm teach one more year of pharmacy law and ethics, he was given more time to spend with Mary, his three children, and five granddaughters. 

In asking to reflect on what he has enjoyed the most, Norm has most enjoyed watching former students grown from the 18-year-old students who walk on to URI campus to young adults at graduation to colleagues in advancing the profession. When asked what he was most proud of about Kappa Psi he reflected that he was most proud of living that Kappa Psi is for life. Any one office, any one period does not define who or what you have done for the Fraternity, but the total effort you have put in, starting from the day you rush the Fraternity. He cited a poem, from an anonymous author that asks the question of all who join Kappa Psi, “Are you just a member, or do you belong?”