Butch Campbell

from Orange Living Summer 2021

Discovering the beauty of a new ‘old’ home

WHY I LOVE ORANGE

By Butch Campbell

Butch Campbell, left, receives an honor from LSCO President Dr. Thomas Johnson. Campbell is retired after 44 years of service with the college.

IIt’s the people. This one is really easy; it is the people. Recently, I was asked what it was that made me love Orange. Born and raised here, the answer was obvious to me. I wish all of my assignments in school would have had easy answers like this question.

It would have been easy to give the usual answers like the World Class facilities brough to us by the fabulous Stark Foundation. Equally easy would be the World Class natural surrounds for fishing, hunting, swimming, boating, camping and everything else we are blessed with here. Chemical Row has provided. Skilled labor is plentiful and good livings have been in the fabric of this beautiful part of the Great State of Texas. This list could go on and on, with many other amazing features. Like service organizations, quality education, very established churches and congregations, tremendous restaurants, and a great housing market. Again, this list could continue for a while.

I am going to attempt to pull all of those attributes mentioned together by highlighting a few organizations/activities that I am very familiar with. You and I both know our area has multiple clubs/organizations/groups that are doing very similar good deeds for our citizens. I admire all of those attempting to help others, or as my mother and father always reminded me to do that “Golden Rule” thing. You remember, the “Do unto others,” lesson. So many people offer a hand up to their neighbors, and while it is highlighted during our many natural disasters, I promise the generosity, kindness, caring and pride is always here.

A couple of years ago, a small church congregation realized that some members didn’t have resources to purchase the basic school supplies for their children to start school. A love offering began and slowly these folks covered some “start up” costs. Word spread of this problem, and soon a small group of concerned citizens put their heads together with the church and the preacher. If this church had this problem, surely this area would be plagued with a deficit that everyone knew about. A committee of eight was formed using Orange Christian Services as their headquarters and clearinghouse. This group became known as “Back to School Orange County”; a very grassroots effort, formed to make sure every student in Orange County had supplies to start school on a level plane with classmates. That meant school supplies. Very quickly, the Committee realized that also meant backpacks, shoes, shots, haircuts, food and so much more. Where in the world would these resources come from? Guess the answer: the people stepped up and donated, volunteered, provided, put together, and brought to Back to School Orange County all of the needs for our students. Yes, OUR students. It looks like Christmas with the students and their parents coming out of the Back to School Orange County event, the first weekend in August. Fifty-five groups set up booths to supply the needs, while 200 folks showed up for each year’s event just to volunteer to help walk families through and make sure they got everything they needed. Some 1800 Orange County citizens have come through the event the last several years.

And, as a side note, any and all supplies left over go back to Orange Christian Services, and each of the schools are given dates to bring trucks and pick up anything they need to stock the teachers’ classrooms. Every dime raised from fundraisers and extremely generous donations from congregations, organizations, local businesses and wonderful Orange County citizens that just want to help. It’s the people.

You have probably heard of the success of our community with Bassmasters Tournaments on the riverfront. Who in the world puts that on? The brainstorm of a couple of businessmen, backed by the wonderfully staffed and solid Orange Chamber of Commerce, the Bassmaster Organization fell in love with the itty, bitty community of Orange, Texas. About 10 years later, Bassmasters has come back to Orange, once every year or two years! This doesn’t happen! This is the equivalent of the NFL, MLB, or NBA showing up here. Once again, a core group of volunteers was formed to put this task together. Each citizen had a special talent that they brought to the table. Around 20 volunteers were tasked to come up with a game plan to make the impossible happen. Each visit puts upwards of $2,000,000 in this local economy! That’s really cool, but why did it happen? Every fisherman will tell you it’s the organization, the fishery, the crawfish, but most of all, it’ the people. They love the hospitality and the people of Orange, Texas. Two hundred volunteers put on this show every time the greatest fishermen in the WORLD come to town.

Probably my favorite club, event, charity, and spectacular group is the Orange Lions Club. Isn’t the Lion’s Club Carnival an amazing piece of small town America? Made up entirely of volunteers, this annual event is, in my opinion, the highlight of Orange each year. I know football fans may argue, but even they come out after the games. Did you know YOUR Orange Lions Club is the ONLY Lions Club in the world that owns, maintains, and operates its own carnival? Read that again. This isn’t a traveling carnival that mysteriously shows up. This carnival is OURS. Rides are taken care of by members of our Lions Club. All of the money raised goes right back into our local community, helping those that need assistance with any number of things: primarily, eye appointments and eyeglasses, hearing aids, some outstanding emergencies and many other things. The Orange Lions Club attempts to be good stewards of all monies raised at the annual charity carnival.

As a side note, each ride out there has its own story; some quite comical, others quite interesting. Here you go: Did you know that the Merry-Go-Round is a 1954 model and was built in San Antonio out of surplus military tanks! It was the 4th one EVER built by San Antonio Roller Works and the serial number on it proudly displays 000004. 