Connie Campbell Henry:
CLASS OF 1972
Ionia High SchoolClass of 1972
Ionia, MI
Connie Campbell's Story
Life
I feel very fortunate to have a loving and terrific family. My husband Bob and I have moved all over the country in 40 years of marriage. We both have been involved in various ways over the years with television news and the media. We are now semi retired in Anthem Arizona. You can try reaching me at concamhnry at aol.com. Our proudest accomplishments are our kids. We have raised three sons who have turned out to be happy, productive, accomplished, thoughtful and appreciative people. (There were a few years in their teens I wouldn't care to relive. But that makes me treasure today even more). Our oldest, Rob and youngest David work together in Los Angeles for their media production/post production company, Carriage House Media. Keep your eye on their first major TV series, The Chair, coming Fall 2014 on Starz network. We are excited to be planning David's March 2015 wedding the a most accomplished young woman, Jill Riehl. Middle son, Guy is a Navy Pilot stationed in Norfolk VA. He is married to the bright and beautiful Cathy Tu Henry. They have twin daughters born in Sept 2012. After raising three sons, I'm enjoying this new role of "Nana" and keep busy sewing for these precocious and precious little girls.
After years of childcare and eldercare I am trying to return to the job market full time in public relations, media or marketing. Currently I occasionally freelance produce stories in Arizona for NBC Nightly News and the Today Show. Nov 2011. I actually worked for my son ( he has a production company in LA) as a story producer on a TV show for Animal Planet called, Seal Wars. It aired in May 2012. I helped to found ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra, a non-profit performance group in Phoenix. After working more than 40 hours a week for PMAZ on a volunteer basis as President of the Board of Directors, I recently stepped down to a board member so I can pursue a full time job that provides some income. I also enjoy singing in the chorale and doing an occasional solo.
School
My favorite teacher was Mrs. MacFarland because she really pushed us intellectually, demanded excellence and kept me on the edge of my seat because she talked so fast. I've thoroughly enjoyed keeping in touch with both Andy and Bonnie MacFarland in my adult life. She taught me to love literature. Andy taught me to love orchestral music and jazz. Now I enjoy reading at least one-two books per week and help run an orchestra and chorale.
My most amusing memory was the Valentines Day Dance '72 sponsored by the student council. As council president, I was leading the team that ran the dance. We had decorated all day long. I raced home to change to a long dress and high heels. It had snowed that day but our driveway was shoveled so I didn't wear boots. The car was parked in the street and the city snowplow had come by and left a huge snow pile across the driveway entrance. I was in a hurry and pretty inexperienced in high heels (not to mention stupid). I hiked up my long skirt and jumped over the snowbank, landed off balance and rolled my ankle a good one. I sputtered a few choice words but didn't cry. I was on a mission.
I managed to limp to the car, drive to school and start the dance. An hour later my ankle was the size of a cantaloup, hurt like the devil and I knew I had to go to the hospital.My parents were out of town in Grand Rapids for a rare date night of their own. Long before the days of cell phones. I called my twin sister Kate ( Kathie then) from the payphone and she got a ride to the high school. Kate was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. We went into the girls bathroom and completely switched clothes. Kate stayed and finished running the dance. I drove myself to the hospital. I ended up badly tearing...Expand for more
most of the ligaments in my ankle and had to wear a cast for eight weeks. Very few people knew of the switch until Monday morning when I arrived at school on crutches. Since my father was out of town, the emergency room called Dr. Smith who took care of me. Very embarrassing.... since the active Campbell kids managed to have a long record of emergency room visits while my parents were out of town. Dr. Smith inevitably was the recipient of the emergency calls. I think we managed to ruin more of his evenings at home than any other single family. Knowing this, the first time I cried over the whole unfortunate adventure is when my mother and father returned late from Grand Rapids and saw me sitting at the kitchen table with my casted leg propped up on another chair. I felt stupid, embarrassed and was tired of being brave because my foot hurt like crazy. I needed some compassion and sympathy........which I got......along with an interesting lecture.
College
I attended the U of Michigan for my freshman year then spent the summer in Washington, D.C as an intern. That changed the course of my life. I interned at WTTG-TV News during the summer of the Watergate hearings on Capitol Hill. I ended up producing the Watergate hearing satellite feeds to the BBC and Europe, gaining experience that lead to full-time paid jobs with WTOP-TV (CBS-affiliate) and Independent Television News. I transferred to the American University in Washington,DC, finished my BS in Communications in 3 years, worked full time and got married to Bob Henry in 1975. Those early years were so busy and a blur as I raced from work-school-home-school-work- home etc. It wasn't a typical college experience. I don't remember the name of one college classmate since I rarely socialized at school. I just went to class and then to work. I was very serious and intensely driven about school and work back then. I think that was because of my brother David's untimely death in 1972 in a plane crash. I guess I was scared life was too short and no one had guarantees. I probably was in a hurry to prove myself a capable adult. Age and wisdom (and kids of my own) have mellowed me out a bit now. But I am still a type A.
Workplace
I started out working in Washington, D.C. as a production assistant for WTOP-TV then advanced to film producer and news assignment desk editor. For several years I was Bureau Chief of Independent Television News Association (precursor of CNN) coordinating satellite coverage of the White House and Capitol Hill for Independent tv stations around the country. I dabbled in making TV commercials. My twin sister, Kate and I even made some twin commercials. (Kate had moved to MD in 1975). When we moved to Pittsburgh, I was a spokesperson for Horne's Department store and Datsun. I continued making commercials in Dallas, TX. When we moved to Grand Rapids, MI in 1983 I had two kids and concentrated on the Mom business and singing at Fountain Street Church Choir. I mainly did volunteer work at schools, church and various choirs over the next ten years. When we moved to LA in 1990 I kept up the singing at Pasadena ProMusica and volunteered with the Los Angeles Children's Chorus. In Anthem AZ I helped found ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra and continue to perform with the group Sept--May each year. I also freelance field produce stories for NBC Nightly News in Arizona. I also produced live satellite feed for German TV N24 during the last month of the McCain Presidential Campaign in 2008. I really enjoyed meeting and working with my German counterparts. I even had the opportunity to reconnect with them in Germany in 2010 on a European trip. I'm hopeful for future chances to work with more foreign journalists during upcoming election cycles.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Photos
