Most Worshipful Louis Kerford Campbell was born on July 8, 1950, in Arlington, Virginia, and was educated in the public schools of Botetourt County, the family having moved to Fincastle when he was quite young. He received an AB Degree from the College of William and Mary and a JD Degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary. He was admitted to the Virginia Bar and began his professional career as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Botetourt County in 1975 and practiced law from 1976 until 1988, when he was appointed a Judge of the General District Court, 25th Judicial District, serving as Chief Judge of that district for ten years. He retired from the judiciary in September 2012, in his 25th year of service. He is a veteran of the United States Army with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Brother Campbell was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on July 19, 1974, in Catawba Lodge No. 342. He is a Life Member in Perpetuity and served as its Worshipful Master in 1979 and 1991. He is also an honorary member of Williamson Road Lodge No. 163 and a member of James Noah Hillman Research Lodge No. 1883. He was District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 22 in 2005. He served as Grand Junior Steward in 1996, Administrative Assistant to the Grand Master in 2004 and as a chairman of the Committee on Youth and a member of the Committee on Appeals. He was elected Grand Junior Deacon in November 2007. He received the John Blair, Jr. Award in 1998. He is the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Bosnia and Herzegovina, near Virginia.
He is a life member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Roanoke, was invested Knight Commander Court of Honour in 1987, coroneted an Inspector General Honorary, 33° in 1997, and served for eleven years as the Personal Representative to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Virginia for that Valley. He is a member of Murray Royal Arch Chapter No. 22, Bayard Commandery No. 15, a life member of Kazim Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., having served as Captain of its Provost Guard unit; also the Royal Order of Jesters, Roanoke Court No. 59, the Order of Quetzalcoatl No. 801, the Royal Order of Scotland, James Monroe Chapter No. 549, National Sojourners, Inc., the Heroes of ’76 and a member and Past Patron of the Botetourt Chapter No. 135, Order of Eastern Star.
Brother Campbell was a member of the Roanoke Valley Chapter, Order of DeMolay and continues to serve as an Advisor to the Roanoke Valley and Hanging Rock Chapters. He served for many years as the Western Region (Virginia) Deputy and is a member of the DeMolay International Supreme Council. He is a Director of the Virginia DeMolay Foundation, Inc. and a recipient of the Legion of Honor from DeMolay International. Virginia DeMolay has honored him as Advisor of the Year (1992) and by presentation of its Lifetime Achievement Award (2011).
Brother Campbell is married to the former Marsha Lynn Kays. They have a son, Louis Alexander “Alex” Campbell, who is a life member of Catawba Lodge No. 342. They are members of Fincastle United Methodist Church.
Unity Lodge No. 146 