Richard “Dick” Campbell Inducted into ANLA Hall of Fame

The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) inducted Richard “Dick” Campbell, President of Campbell’s Nurseries and Garden Centers (NE) into its Hall of Fame. Established in 1966, the ANLA Hall of Fame Award is given to an outstanding nursery and landscape industry professional whose business and community accomplishments serve as an example for others in the industry.  The award is the highest honor the green industry can bestow upon one of its members. 

Campbell’s election to the Hall of Fame is a testament of his commitment to leadership and service, both to his family and their business, and to the green industry and its associations. 

Accepting the award, Campbell said, “I have always believed, and led, by the following principle: true leadership is not inspiring confidence in leaders, it is inspiring people to have confidence in themselves.”

Campbell has served as president of ANLA and its Landscape Division. He has also served as president of the regional Western Nursery and Landscape Association and the Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association. Campbell was most recently called upon to serve ANLA as co-chair of their recent Merger Evaluation Task force, exploring the possibility of a merger with PLANET. 

“Dick was often chosen because of his ability to lead a group through difficult times and help them make important and timely decisions,” said ANLA Past-President, Thomas Pinney.

Campbell has served as president of his family’s business since 1979. During that time he has helped the business grow from a “small mom-and-pop” operation into a major corporate entity. The business today includes parents, wives, in-laws, siblings, children, nieces and nephews. 

“In my view, the most unique contribution Dick and his personality has made on our industry is the example of leading a thoughtfully balanced family business into the fourth generation celebrating 95 years of commerce,” said ANLA president Dwight Hughes Jr.

Hughes credited that success to Campbell’s “steady and sensitive leadership.” 

Campbell, however, credited his mentors with much of his success, most notably, his wife Kathy. 

“As a married couple, she has mentored and aided me all along the way," he said. "Each night, when both of us get home, the first 30 minutes are ‘Kathy and Dick’ time.  We discuss each other’s day, we work on problems and opportunities each of us will face the next day and we rejoice in each other’s successes.”