Progress 2022: Distinguished Through the Decades

Phil Campbell’s Michelle (Davis) Campbell leaned on the wisdom and encouragement of a couple family members in her decision to take part in Franklin County’s Junior Miss competition: her aunt, Jean Stewart, and her aunt’s daughter, Robin (Mann) Drake – a former Franklin County Junior Miss herself in 1976.

“Robin was a former Miss Alabama Teen USA, and I had grown up watching her participate in many programs,” Campbell noted.

As a high school Bobcat, Campbell was involved in varsity cheer, National Honor Society, Student Council and various other clubs. Despite being an active and social person, she said she still had to contend with nerves during the Junior Miss program.

“It was challenging because I did get very nervous during the process. It takes a lot of hard work and time,” said Campbell, nevertheless describing it as “well worth any challenges.”

“Present-day high school students should embrace the opportunity to participate in the DYW program,” she added. “It will be full of opportunities for their future, and they will make great memories along the way … I met some wonderful friends that, even today, 35 years later, I keep in touch with.”

As for Campbell’s future, after high school she attended The University of Alabama, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood/elementary education. It’s a degree she has put to good use – for the past 12 years, as a second- through fourth-grade teacher at Elite Learning Academy in Coppell, Texas.

“Our school is inside Texas Dreams Gymnastics facility. My daughter was a gymnast here for 13 years and attended the school, so I began teaching here when she was younger,” Campbell explained. “I love it. The girls are very well behaved and goal driven. The school also allows kids from other sports or activities to come to our school.”

Campbell lives in Highland Village, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, having lived in the state for 25 years. “We did move back to Alabama for three years at one point, but we now remain in Texas with no plans to move again,” she said.

She has two children: daughter Reagan is 23 and in a fifth-year senior at Louisiana State University, where she is a member of the gymnastics team, and son Davis is 19 and a freshman at LSU.