Bethel Ministries International

Dr. Fred Campbell, Deputy Warden at the Ouachita River Correctional Unit has served as a bodyguard for celebrities for years and told some of those encounters in his latest book, Bodyguard To The Stars.

Dr. Fred Campbell knows a lot more than he is telling. He admits to that. Campbell, the Deputy Warden at the Ouachita River Correctional Unit, has published his second book, Bodyguard To The Stars. It’s a non‐fiction book featuring pictures of Campbell and many of his celebrity clients published in the United States by Motivational Speakers Institute.

Campbell is a member of the North American Bodyguard Association and has over 34 years of law enforcement and executive protection experience. Part of his role serving as a bodyguard has included protecting celebrities, politicians, executives, and athletes.

Athletes need bodyguards. Yes! Campbell received a call one day to serve as a bodyguard for former world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Why would Joe Frazier need a bodyguard? Campbell remembers asking himself. An agent called Campbell to solicit his services as a bodyguard for the boxer better known to the world as Smokinʹ Joe Frazier.

Frazier was retired from boxing and had entered a career in singing. However, that did not mean he could not still inflict injury. The week before Campbell’s night as Frazier’s bodyguard there had been an incident. Someone heckled Frazier. Smokinʹ Joe found the heckler and beat the ʺheckleʺ out of him. Campbell recalls talking to Frazier while driving him to the stage in a golf cart. Campbell told Frazier it was an honor to meet him. Frazier mentioned the brawl the week before and Campbell acknowledged he had heard something about it.

ʺI had a real good time with Frazier,ʺ Campbell said. ʺHe was just an excellent fellow. He was enjoying life.ʺ Campbell also learned a lot that only insiders know. And Campbell is keeping most of that to himself.

On the long‐running television series Star Trek, Captain James Kirk and Mr. Scott ʺScottyʺ were pals. Not so in real life. William Shatner (Kirk) and James Doohan (Scotty) were enemies. ʺThey hated each others guts,ʺ Campbell said of Shatner and Doohan. ʺHe, (Doohan) told me some things I wouldn’t write in the book. He just could not stand the man.

As a bodyguard, I do not tell the dirty stuff. There is stuff I will not tell. I don’t get into the dirt.ʺ

Campbell has also served as a bodyguard for Stevie Wonder, President George H. Bush, Daisy Bates, Rosa Parks, and many others. He recalled having a good relationship with Wonder, the blind rock legend.

Once when he was serving as Wonder’s bodyguard a woman in the crowd screamed, ʺStevie…Stevie! I love you!ʺ The woman then pulled her blouse off. ʺI looked at her and said, ʹlady, he’s blind,ʺ Campbell said. She said, ʺOh, I forgot!ʺ Wonder asked Campbell what the commotion was all about. Stevie said, ʺChief, what was it?ʺ Campbell told Wonder what happen and Wonder’s response was hilarious.

Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Campbell has experienced a lengthy career in law enforcement, including serving as the chief of police in Brinkley from 1986 ‐ 1989. He has been with the Arkansas Department of Corrections since 1989. He travels giving lectures, often now on cruise ships.

Before serving as Daisy Batesʹ bodyguard, Campbell admits he tried to find her a retired Secret Service agent for the job. ʺI was trying to get her a black, retired Secret Service agent because they’re not to do any off‐duty stuff,ʺ Campbell said. ʺSo I told her that.ʺ Bates said, ʺWell, why can’t you do it?ʺ

Campbell said, ʺMiss Bates, I’m trying to get you like, an African‐American”. ʺYou think I’m prejudice?ʺ Bates asked. ʺI said no, Miss Bates,” Campbell said. ʺI know you aren’t prejudice but I just thought.ʺ Bates said, ʺI want you.ʺ

Campbell, an expert in the martial arts, who once weighed 400 pounds, still trains law enforcement. ʺGet physical?ʺ Campbell said. ʺFortunately, I’ve not had to. I tell all my people I train that’s the last thing you want to do. Your job is to get out, not stand there, and fight.ʺ

The book is available through amazon.com/books.

By Staff Writer, Mark Bivens

Malvern Daily Record

Reproduced with permission of Malvern Daily Record