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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Eugene Preston "Gene" Campbell​

|name=Eugene Preston "Gene" Campbell​

|office=[[Sheriff]] of Concordia Parish, [[Louisiana]]​

|office=[[Sheriff]] of Concordia Parish, [[Louisiana]]​

|term_start=June 1908​

|term_start=June 6, 1908​

|term_end=January 30, 1940​

|term_end=June 1, 1916​

|preceded=​

|succeeded=Doretta Katie "Rhetta" Schuchs Campbell​

|term_end2=January 30, 1940

|preceded2=J. A. Cross

|succeeded2=Doretta Katie "Rhetta" Schuchs Campbell​

|birth_place=Concordia Parish, Louisiana​

|birth_place=Concordia Parish, Louisiana​

|birth_date=February 18, 1870​

|birth_date=February 18, 1870​

|alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]​}}​

|alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]​}}​

'''Eugene Preston Campbell''', known as '''Gene Campbell''' (February 18, 1870 – January 30, 1940), was thus far the longest serving sheriff in the history of Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]]. He held office for nearly thirty-two years from June 1908 until his death, which occurred two weeks after his reelection to a ninth four-year term.​

'''Eugene Preston Campbell''', known as '''Gene Campbell''' (February 18, 1870 – January 30, 1940), was a long-serving sheriff in Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]]. He held the position for nearly twenty-eight years from June 1908 until 1916 and again from 1920 until his death, which occurred two weeks after his reelection to an eighth four-year term as sheriff, which never materialized.

His longevity in office has been likened to that of another Concordia Parish sheriff, [[Noah W. Cross]], who served from 1944 to 1948 and again from 1952 to 1973.

His longevity in office is almost as long as another Concordia Parish sheriff, [[Noah W. Cross]], who served from 1940 to 1948 and again from 1952 to 1973, a total of almost twenty-nine years.

==Background==

==Background==

Campbell was born and reared on the Black River in Concordia Parish, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Campbell, who were among the early pioneers of the region. F. L. Campbell was named assessor of Concordia Parish in 1888 by [[Governor]] Francis T. Nicholls and again in 1892 by Governor Murphy J. Foster, Sr.  Eugene Campbell was himself appointed assessor by Governor Newton C. Blanchard. Campbell had five brothers, including a twin who died in early childhood. He played the position of end and was named a letterman on the first [[football]] team of [[Louisiana State University]] in 1893. Three years later, Campbell graduated from LSU.<ref name=tpg>"Death of Hon. E. P. Campbell," ''Tensas Gazette,'' February 1940.</ref>

Campbell was born and reared on the Black River in Concordia Parish, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Campbell, who were among the early pioneers of the region. F. L. Campbell was named assessor of Concordia Parish in 1888 by [[Governor]] Francis T. Nicholls and again in 1892 by Governor Murphy J. Foster, Sr.  Eugene Campbell was himself appointed assessor by Governor Newton C. Blanchard. Campbell had five brothers, including a twin who died in early childhood. He played the position of end and was named a letterman on the first [[football]] team of [[Louisiana State University]] in 1893. Three years later, Campbell graduated from LSU.<ref name=tpg>"Death of Hon. E. P. Campbell," ''Tensas Gazette,'' February 1940.</ref>

Campbell and his wife, the former Doretta Katie "Rhetta" Schuchs,<ref>Doretta “Rhetta” Schuchs Campbell (1877-1941), Findagrave.com [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105893660/doretta-campbell], accessed February 4, 2026.</ref> a native of Vidalia, the seat of government for Concordia Parish, had an adopted daughter, Ruby Maude Chandler Campbell Fulton (1917-1985), and husband, Dudley Gilbert Fulton, Sr. (1915-2003), of Clarks in Caldwell Parish.<ref name=tpg/>

Campbell and his wife, the former Doretta Katie "Rhetta" Schuchs,<ref>Doretta “Rhetta” Schuchs Campbell (1877-1941), Findagrave.com [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105893660/doretta-campbell], accessed February 4, 2026.</ref> a native of Vidalia, the seat of government for Concordia Parish, had an adopted daughter, Ruby Maude Chandler Campbell Fulton (1917-1985), and husband, Dudley Gilbert Fulton, Sr. (1915-2003), of Clarks in Caldwell Parish.<ref name=tpg/>