Photo Courtesy of Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame
Photo Courtesy of Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame
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Considered by many as the area's greatest all-time athlete Vestal grad Bob Campbell returned home on April 20 to be honored with induction into the initial class of the Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame.

Campbell was a multi-sport standout at Vestal High School who earned a football scholarship to Penn State and went on to play in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Campbell excelled in any sport he attempted.  He set a world record in 1962 for a 15 year-old in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 4 and 1/4 inches.  He set a New York State record in the high jump at 6 feet, 5 and 1/2 inches and established a Section IV record in the 220 yard dash with a time of 21.3 seconds.

In football Campbell rushed for a STAC record for total yards in a career with 2,681.  On the basketball court he set a Vestal record for most points in a game with 36 and for most points in a single season with 399.  Campbell was selected as the Press and Sun-Bulletin Athlete of the Year in 1963, 1964, 1965.

Bob went on to star in football at Penn State where his heroics helped the Nittany Lions defeat Kansas in the 1969 Orange Bowl.  He was named MVP of that game as well.

Following his standout collegiate career Campbell went on to play in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He then went on to coach high school football near Syracuse and in Maryland and now makes his home in Pa.

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