b'S potlighting the Clubs longest- REMEMBERING, THEY TAKE US BACK tenured members, Jack and SallyDuring WWII, in the 40s, Jack recalls, members were in the service Campbell, both 95 and membersand the Club was just hanging on. We gave several memberships to of CCL for 73 years, would be anofficers from Lincoln Air Force Base to keep CCL viable. We had slot act of valor for a writer were it not for the factmachines in the back room, and no one seemed to care, as we used that they say so little about themselves. Thisthose for income too. We had to be a little creative to keep things articulate, peppy, engaging couple makes itgoing.clear in the first minutes of conversation thatFor a time, Jack continues, the Club hosted many different their interest is in family, friends and Lincoln.dance clubs around town, of which CCL members were members. And they press upon us the few words theyThere was dancing with live bands in the ballroom after every home believe are important to share about CCL: football game. The Campbells chuckle remembering Bob Devaneyfabled Nebraska Cornhuskers two-time national championship Jack: The days and years of making greatfootball coach and a very well-liked CCL memberwho always let his memories of good times with fine people. hair down on the ballroom floor after a game. They remember the big summer song-and-dance affairs Sally: A lot of good timeswonderful people.at the Club with American actor and singer Gordon MacRae, of Oklahoma! fame, who always had a Hollywood buddy in Jack: A life experience.tow. MacRae, who passed in 1986, and his Sterling, Nebraska, bride, Elizabeth Lambert Schrafft, made Lincoln their summer Sally: A celebratory place. home from 1971 on.Jack says adult membership at CCL has been a brief 73 years, and Jacks parents gave them the gift of a Country Club of Lincolnremembers so much life at the pool as a child in the 1930s and 40s. membership when they married in 1951. Born and raised in Lincoln,(He clarifies that this was four or five CCL pools ago, when the pool Jack, a long-term general agent for a large insurance company, grewwas just a bathtub set in a grove of apple trees, which prompted up at the Club. Home for Sally, growing up, was nearby Kearney. a prankish, swamping game involving said apples.) We lived quite They tell us they werent very athletic, and we wonder by whichclose, so I often walked to the Club in my swimsuit, rolling under the standard they measure this. They swam, dabbled in tennissingles,barbed-wire fence that surrounded it at the time. doubles and mixed doublesand Jack played golf. Not a seriousOne time, Sam Francis, a running back for the Nebraska golfer. The word social, they say, amending this to very social, bestCornhuskers who was a Heisman Trophy runner-up in 36, was with defines their Club experience. a buddy and they had this game going of throwing kids up in the air. I was 7. He threw me in the air, and I hit the bottom of the pool andSally: Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, wedding receptionscracked my head. He came to our home to give me an autographedlots of entertaining at the Club. One winter, we had a bigfootball. It made me a celebrity. Later in life, we got to be friends, and soup dinner there. I teased him about the scar on my head.Nearly in unison: Our three children, six grandchildren (all butSTILL REGULARStwo with spouses) and five great-grandchildren, the youngest age 4,Say hello to the Campbells, who say the Club is still an important gather on the 4 thof July every year from Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsinpart of their lives, the next time you see them dining in the Swingfest and Nebraska (Bellevue) to swim and enjoy golf, fireworks and food.room. Its their favorite place to be. Sally wont confess to a favorite menu item and praises the food and the CCL staff, who are always Jack: Following in the footsteps of our children, who grew up atsuper top grade. We imagine her winking when she shares over the the Club like I did, the greats like going to the Cabana, and everyphone that her favorite is anything she doesnt have to cook.one of them knows our CCL number. Sometimes we quiz them.Pinot Grigio is my favorite, Jack says, but dont print that. And They all smileI love the specials.Sally: Always a fun and happy place. What a SWING FESTWhat we learn about Jack and Sally Campbell between the lines of what theyve shared inspires us to want to be better. Kinder. More generous. More aware of the needs of others. More involved. This dynamic, inspiring couple received the 2024 JoAnn Martin Civic Leadership Award from Lincoln Community Foundation for a lifetime of significant civic leadership, stewardship andcontribution. Scan the QR code to learn more. Youll want to thank them.Scott Jenkinssjenkins@ccl.cc |MEMBERSHIP'