Campbell has been recognized numerous times for his contributions to the community, receiving the Chicago Urban League's Beautiful People Award in 1985; the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award from St. Sabina Church in 1984 and Communications Excellence Award from the Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce in 1988. 2. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Photo - Bill Campbell as 11 month old infant, Photo - Bill Campbell as infant with "first michrophone", Photo - Bill Campbell sitting atop a drum, Photo - Bill Campbell as a five year old in kindergarten, Photo - Bill Campbell in preschool at Greater St. John Baptist Church, Photo - Bill Campbell in a Bennett Elementary School Christmas play, Photo - Bill Campbell poses with stuffed puppy, Photo - Bill Campbell plays the sax with college jazz ensemble, Photo - Bill Campbell with college jazz ensemble, Photo - Bill Campbell poses with parents and brother Kevin, Photo - Bill Campbell with brother in 1956, Photo - Bill Campbell with his five nephews, Photo - Bill Campbell with nieces and nephews, Photo - Bill Campbell with nieces and nephews, 1998, Photo - Bill Campbell with singer Nancy Wilson, Photo - Bill Campbell's picture from a soup cookbook, Bill Campbell talks about his mother and grandfather, Bill Campbell describes his grandfathers connection with Wilberforce University, Bill Campbell details his scientist father's life, Bill Campbell discusses his fathers upbringing, Bill Campbell's paternal grandfather on education, Bill Campbell talks about his younger sisters and moving to Texas, Bill Campbell shares the story of how his parents first met, Bill Campbell shares more stories from his childhood in Chicago, Bill Campbell talks about his childhood and siblings, Bill Campbell shares some stories from childhood, Bill Campbell continues and shares his philosophy of "positivity on purpose", Bill Campbell remembers the segregation of Chicago's South Side in his childhood, Bill Campbell talks about his elementary school and more childhood memories, Bill Campbell discusses the values he received at home, Bill Campbell recalls how meeting Daddy-O Daylie and Bill Cosby changed his life, Bill Campbell continues with his story of Daddy-O Daylie and Bill Cosby, Bill Campbell runs into Bill Cosby 20 years later and says Daddy-O Daylie is his hero, Bill Campbell on God's will and his lifes choices, Bill Campbell describes how he ended up attending Carleton College, Bill Campbell recounts his college study abroad in the Ivory Coast, Bill Campbell recounts his near-death experience abroad, Bill Campbell talks about how his near death experience helped him deal with the loss of his mother, Bill Campbell on the transition from Chicago to rural Minnesota, Bill Campbell talks about playing the sax and his musical interests, Bill Campbell continues with stories from his music background, Bill Campbell tells how these collegiate experiences prepared him for his future success, Bill Campbell discusses his transition from college to working for Mayor Richard J. Daley, Bill Campbell talks about an incedent when interning at Illinois Bell, Bill Campbell talks about his experience working for the Mayor's Office, Bill Campbell continues to talk about working for the Chicago Urban League, Bill Campbell talks about the fortuitous circumstances which led him to Channel 7, Bill Campbell reflects on his years on ABC- Channel 7, Bill Campbell discusses the origins of his talk show- "Chicagoing", Bill Campbell talks about his ABC-Channel 7 jazz group, Bill Campbell talks about the family environment at WLS-TV/ABC-Channel 7, Bill Campbell talks more about his talk show "Chicagoing", Bill Campbell distinguishes his TV format from the typical community affairs program, Bill Campbell discusses avoiding the "public affairs ghetto" on television, Bill Campbell offers his views on African Americans in broadcast journalism, Bill Campbell ponders his future in broadcast journalism, Bill Campbell decides to make the leap from ABC Channel 7, Bill Campbell shares his views on spirituality, Bill Campbell's hopes for the future and reflections on his legacy, Occupation(s): He was the third black mayor in the city's history. Join the media? Officials in charge of managing the citys pension fund accounts were flagrantly lining their pockets at the expense of Atlanta retirees. Previously, he dated American actress Virginia Madsen and stayed in a relationship for seven years since 1981. William Craig Campbell, Bill Campbell, William C. Campbell, Vanderbilt University (B.A. Billy Campbell is best known for starring in the beloved ABC drama "Once and Again," for which he earned a Golden Globe Awards nomination in the Best Actor - Drama Series category, as well as a People's Choice Award in the Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series category. He was disbarred by order of the Supreme Court of Florida as a result of his tax evasion conviction. Bill Campbell, a veteran Chicago broadcaster who spent more than three decades with ABC 7 Chicago, including as a talk show host and the station's community relations director, died Wednesday at . Issues of Time. During his first term, his major accomplishments included overhauling the city's finance department, passing a major bond issue to pay for infrastructure improvements for the 1996 Summer Olympics, rebuilding the public housing system, and modernizing the legal, public works, and water departments. Since its opening in 1991, by potter Bill Campbell and his wife, Jane Campbell, Campbell Pottery store, 25579 Plank Road, Cambridge Springs, the store has grown . After the call, I said to a colleague, If I wrote that guy was Jesus resurrected, he would complain I didnt say he was God.. It turned out that some companies with leases to operate restaurants, stores, and vending machines at the airport had been paying off city politicians for years: with bundles of money; with expensive jewelry; and even, in the case of longtime councilman Ira Jackson, chair of the committee that oversaw the airport, an ownership percentage in the airports biggest chain of gift shops. [9] Campbell was succeeded by Shirley Franklin. I am convinced there are a lot of people in this town who like Bill Campbell.. The former mayors sentence reduction was first reported in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His term was from January 1994 to January 2002 Campbell would later be criticised for deploying anti-Black racist messaging in an attempt to deflect criticism of his record as mayor. Marion associated with NBC5 in 1998 as a weekend anchor that has contributed towards her increasingfortunes. The 1997 race was known for its emphasis on the racial overtones often not publicly seen in the African-American community, with Campbell being the lighter-skinned candidate and Arrington the darker complexioned. Campbell has offered few clues as to his long-term plans. in Urban Studies, he worked as a Program Specialist in the Office of the Mayor, and later as the Director of Communications for the Chicago Urban League. Bill Campbell 1954 - Mayor of Atlanta At a Glance Bolstered Blacks Victorious in Mayoral Runoff Election Faced the Olympic Challenge Sources Bill Campbell was elected mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, in November of 1993, at the age of 40, thereby taking the reigns of power for a new generation. Bill Campbell (mayor) Wiki, Biography, Age as Wikipedia Bill Campbell (mayor) is an American politician, who served as the 57th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from January 1994-January 2002. According to Douglas A. Blackmon, Campbell was seen as a "postcivil rights movement black politician who would leverage the economic rebirth of Atlanta, build a bridge to white voters, and become a U.S. senator or a Georgia governor". It brought gridlock, mayhem, and lewd displays for some city residentsand a very good time for a lot of others. "I was (at city hall) before and during the Olympics. ATLANTA The federal Bureau of Prisons allowed Bill Campbell, the former mayor of Atlanta now serving time for tax evasion, to shorten his sentence by enrolling in a drug treatment program just a few months after he told a federal judge that he had no substance abuse problems. Thomas Brooks is the Vice-President of Marketing and Senior Webzine Editor for Minority Professional Network, Follow this link for Thomas' Bio. Former Mayor Bill Campbell was acquitted Friday of lining his pockets with payoffs while guiding Atlanta through a period of explosive growth in the 1990s. His Viagra prescriptions alone must have cost the 52-year-old mayor a pretty penny. Campbell fondly recalls his childhood, growing up in a building owned and inhabited entirely by his extended family. He served part of it at a Salvation Army halfway house. Nowhere in the article was Mr. Campbell's political affiliation mentioned. Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell and his wife, Sharon, arrive at his corruption trial in this February photo. When Bill was 10 years old, his father got a new job and moved the family to Pomona, California. The difference was that in Atlanta, it seemed everybody, black and white, was fleeing from him. Former Mayor Bill Campbell of Atlanta, with his wife, Sharon, after he was sentenced to 30 months for tax evasion in 2006. When the big corruption cases began surfacing, he let the cards falleven when people he had once had great faith in were clearly going to be crushed. The federal jury took a day and a half to acquit Campbell of racketeering and bribery after a seven-week trial that put his womanizing and his high-rolling, jet-setting ways on display with his wife sitting dutifully in the courtroom for most of the proceedings. The defense countered that Campbells extra money came from his gambling winnings and speaking engagements, and that Campbells subordinates had used his name without his knowledge to enrich themselves. Former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell said one of the last things Lewis said to him, when they knew his days were coming to an end, were about the upcoming presidential election. Care about your people. Personal Life. William Craig Campbell[1] (born 1953) is an American politician, who served as the 57th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from January 1994January 2002. He presided over one of the most prosperous periods in Atlanta history. Everyone has demons, of course. ), Between juggling a wife and two girlfriends, you have to wonder how the mayor ever found time for all that (alleged) racketeering, bribery and tax fraud.Anyway, the federal prosecutor "questioned Jimenez about dates she traveled to meet the mayor in distant cities in a methodical style. The charges came from a five-year federal investigation into possible corruption during his time as Mayor of Atlanta. Affair With Former Mayor Bill Campbell Marion shared a four-year relationship with former Atlanta's Mayor Bill Campbell in the mid-1990's before her marriage with Ruye. 2023 The HistoryMakers. Tom Houck, a political and media gadfly and longtime Campbell friend, said the man deserves a second chance. It was reported in 2005 that Ruye's divorce was kept on hold due to conflict on child custody. That wasnt successful, so he bowed to pressure from white Atlantans and business leaders to crack down, arresting huge numbers of young people. And it's logical, if you think about it: If a man will cheat on his wife, why won't he cheat on the taxpayers, too?And Campbell apparently needed the extra money, because he liked to show the ladies a big time. Campbell, 52, could get up to nine years in prison and $300,000 in fines, but legal experts have said its doubtful he would receive the maximum sentence. Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who presided over one of the most dynamic periods in the city's history, was sentenced Tuesday to 2 years in prison and fined $6,300 for tax evasion. Executive Office for the United States Attorneys (2008) John Marshall Award, Prosecution of Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph. He is also known for his work as a co-lead in the critically acclaimed AMC series "The. He was the mayor of Atlanta from 1994 to 2004 and was charged 30 months of long-term imprisonment for his tax evasion case in 2006. As mayor, he perhaps is best known for transforming Atlantas ridiculed public housing system into a model for mixed-income living. Mr. The recipient ofPeter Lisagor Award 2013 has been with NBC5 for more than two decades, and in the process, he got nominated for National Emmy Award in 2013. Mr. Campbell is no stranger to questionable documentation. Entrepreneur who sold Siri to Steve Jobs: These are 4 keys to launching a successful business. He received credit for turning East Lake Meadows, an urban battleground, into the Villages at East Lake, a sprawling apartment complex with manicured grounds, a golf course and a mix of lower- and middle-income residents. It began when Campbell walked into the. Campbell was accused of accepting bribes in exchange for city contracts. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The citys legal, public works, and water departments were retooled. It was reported by The New York Times that "Prison officials said inmates must offer documentation of prior substance abuse to enter the treatment program, but for privacy reasons they said they could not disclose whether Mr. Campbell submitted such proof." Billy and his wife Ollie share one child. Ten years after he left office, and 2 1/2 years following his prison release, Campbell, 57, is an Atlanta presence again, easing back into a metropolitan setting once charmed by his personality and magnetism. Scathing reports from both the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs revealed corruption, waste, bureaucratic incompetence, and specifically called out interference by mayor Campbell.Involvement with Corporate Water PrivatisationAccording to the documentary, "Blue Gold - World Water Wars, " Mayor Campbell accepted a $6, 900 campaign contribution and a trip to Paris from water privatisation company Suez even though he was "not running for office. Marion was called to testify the corruption against Bill who was charged $160,000 for illegal work in campaigns, home improvements and cash payments for city contracts. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, sentenced to 30 months for tax evasion, completed the program, but the four-month early release he received was revoked in 2008 after prosecutors raised questions about whether he really had an alcohol problem. Last week, Girlfriend No. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. As host and producer of WLS-7's 'Chicagoing' and Director of Community Services, Bill Campbell has been bridging the gap between media and community his entire adult career. But Campbell was also smart, driven, and, it seemed, ethically clean. Of particular interest to CL readers was confirmation of the rumor that the couple had been introduced by former Loaf columnist and Campbell apologist Tom Houck back in early 1996, when Brooks was WSB's noon anchor. He was earnestly pushing (though getting nowhere) for the citys first comprehensive code of ethics. He presided over the construction of Philips Arena and high-rise condominiums and the virtual disappearance of housing projects. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Last week, jurors in the ex-mayor's federal corruption trial got a rare break from the numbing procession of spreadsheets and bank receipts in the form of Marion Brooks, a former WSB-TV/Channel 2 anchor who spent four years as a Campbell paramour. Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell over the past month has turned up at a jazz festival, Baptist church service, and town hall and press club gatherings. But the judge added that during the trial he "was overcome, almost appalled, at the breadth of misconduct in your administration.". Campbell suffered a stroke past in 2017. Campbell's wife, Sharon, his children Billy and Christina, his mother and other family members were also present and recognized at the event. Former Mayor Bill Campbell cut an almost jaunty figure on Friday for a man who faces up to nine years in prison. Campbells looked modest back then. Anne Campbell [1] Children. Briefs: 11Alives news director goes to Gray; Honey Boo Boos boyfriend arrested; Marlon Devin Willocks dad questions communication following fatal crash, South metro Atlanta leaders to talk development on Wednesday, Atlanta mayor looks to cultivate citys future while outsiders threaten to pull it apart, Clayton County Commission to meet Thursday in special-called meeting, Atlantas Carter Center preps for future without founder, Photography club captures hope during pandemic, March food and drink events to check out in metro Atlanta. It clearly got his goat that the citys business leadership ignored the positive changes in parts of city government; he was thrown under the bus for Olympic shortcomings, many of which had more to do with the shoestring budget of the privately funded Games than they did with City Hall. Mr. Campbells projected release date is in June, more than seven months short of his original sentence. "I am going to send you to prison," Story told Campbell, who was mayor for eight years and served for 12 years on the City Council. Manage Settings He first gained recognition for his recurring role as Luke Fuller in the TV series Dynasty. from Duke University Law School. No one is exactly sure what his next move will be Will he try to re-enter politics? The trial begins its third week on Monday. ?? It made me think of a story Campbell told early in his career, about jumping into a pool as a little boy in his segregated North Carolina hometown and seeing all the white kids immediately climb out. Campbell was Mayor of Atlanta during the 1990s when the city made incredible . He made mistakesespecially by appointing some people who abused his trust. He is married and sharing a married life with his Norwegian wife, Anna Campbell. But the jury convicted him of tax evasion. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. ?? [2] Martin also defended former NBA player Jayson Williams at trial during Spring 2004. Campbell won the election and became mayor in 1994. By continuing with us, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Billy Campbell has reached the age of 63 now. After leaving office, he had a brief stint as a radio talk show host, then moved to Stuart, Fla., to practice law. They talk occasionally now. He met his wife when he was on board. After their marriage in March, the couple announced that they were expecting a baby girl in May 2005. The citys bloated 1970s-era finance department was overhauled and professionalized. Fortunately for Atlanta, there were still a few bright spots. There were poker games with a select group of buddies at his house that didnt sound like a good idea. Business can be ruthless, especially in its pursuit of profit and . Marion has a lovely relationship with her stepdaughter which is evident in a picture she shared on 1 February 2018. She was born to parents Sam and Margaret Brooks in Vancouver, British Columbia. Gabe Pascarella, an Atlanta businessman who testified at the trial, said he was surprised to hear that Mr. Campbell, a close associate for two decades, had undergone substance abuse treatment. He wasnt smoking crack in a hotel room like Marion Berry, Houck said. It didnt make sense that he was part of that conspiracy. Anyone can read what you share. LIZELLA, Georgia (CNN) -- Mourners packed a church in middle Georgia on Sunday for the funeral of Leigh Ann Barton, the first of 12 victims killed by her husband during a deadly rampage last week . Since starting in the banking industry in 1983, he has personally assisted customers in a variety of roles . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. But having said that, I dont know what he is doing, how he earns a living or where he lives.. He was the third African-American mayor in the city's history. I was never, ever aware of any substance abuse problem he had with alcohol or anything else, Mr. Pascarella said. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Campbell was the first black student to attend an all-white school in Raleigh City Schools at the age of seven. I was with him and Sharon [Campbells wife] a few weeks ago at the Dogwood Festival and it was interesting to see how people respond to him, said Houck. We had a Barack there for a bit. [2] He was the third African-American mayor in the city's history. His role was minor but he gained great appreciation from his fans. Watch the prosecutor explain the crimes -- 3:19, Watch as Campbell reacts to the verdict outside the courthouse -- :56. But personally he was as clean as politicians come. Billy Campbell has been sharing his happy married life with Anne Campbell. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story to 30 months in prison for the three counts on tax evasion. Although her birthday is kept under the wraps, one of her fans wished her on 18 April. Accused of corruption during his time in office, he was convicted for tax evasion in 2006 and spent 16 months in federal prison. 'The City of College Park thanks Mayor Wojahn for his many years of dedicated service,' read the city's statement. One day I watched the chairman of a powerful committee walk to the public lectern during discussion of a request on one of his own real estate projects, and begin arguing for approval to himself. Both prosecutors and defense lawyers review a draft of the report before it is submitted to the judge. Her parents are together for more than 45 years. Its outrageous and reprehensible, he bellowedupset at a nonexistent implication that the other candidate was doing better than him. Jessica McGowan for The New York Times "We wouldn't look at any. William Craig Campbell [1] (born 1953) is an American politician, who served as the 57th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from January 1994-January 2002. Prosecutors accused Campbell of taking more than $160,000 in illegal campaign contributions, cash payments, junkets and home improvements from city contractors while he was mayor. Instead, he was convicted on just three counts of tax evasion, and acquitted of the other charges a verdict he and his attorneys painted as a vindication. The original corrupt Democrat, Aaron Burr, was also somewhat notorious as a lady's man. Cancer was Bill Campbell's cause of death. A jury acquits former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell of racketeering and bribery -- but finds him guilty of tax evasion. Marion Brooks is married toOrlando based lawyer named Ruye Hawkins in March 2005. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I hope hes reformed, but he has a big hole to step out of.. Following his tenure as mayor, he moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he worked as a practising attorney. And Atlanta felt like the place where that figure couldand shouldrise. When I reported in the AJC during the 1993 mayoral race that Echols, the bribe-happy airport businessman, had also claimed to the FBI that hed paid Campbell, I dug through years of airport contract votes. William Oliver Campbell, better known as Billy Campbell, was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, on July 7, 1959. [1], In November 1994, the Atlanta Empowerment Zone was established, a 10-year, $250 million federal program to revitalize Atlanta's 34 poorest neighborhoods including the Bluff. Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Campbell must also settle with the Internal Revenue Service for $62,823 in taxes he failed to pay. "This is not justice. On Jan. 23, the Times reported that former Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell is on trial for receiving payoffs of $150,000 from companies doing business with the city, as well as $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and other gratuities. The new reporter first job was at radio broadcasting, WGST. He was the third African-American mayor in the city's history. On his watch, the city grew for the first time in more than 30 years, adding 40,000 people. According to Glassdoor, an average wage package for a news anchor in NBC is $61,653. She attended public schools in Philadelphia. Since 1961, Atlanta magazine, the citys premier general interest publication, has served as the authority on Atlanta, providing its readers with a mix of long-form nonfiction, lively lifestyle coverage, in-depth service journalism, and literary essays, columns, and profiles. He attended William G. Enloe High School and is the youngest of three siblings.His older brother Ralph Cambell Jr. was the first black person to hold statewide office in North Carolina. The presentencing investigation report is written by a probation officer and is not a public document. It didnt mention him by name but said fundraising was off to a slow start for the two announced candidates and noted that his opponent had been to Washington, D.C., to raise money. Write a book? He was the third black mayor in the city's history. After a seven-year federal investigation and a two-month trial, a jury. Campbell became increasingly absent in his second term. Oops. )Corruption and horndogging tend to go naturally together. I see him and we talk, but I have not sat down with him. Rebuilding began on Atlantas catastrophically failed public housing system. It wasnt just the airport. And he paid these staggering bills with large wads of cash always cash, testified Brooks, who never saw the mayor use a credit card or an ATM. asked attorney Jerry Froelich. The investigation report summarizes the defendants role in the crime, community ties, physical condition, substance abuse history and other details. Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. He went to Fork Union Military Academy and later attended Western Albemarle High School to complete his studies. Did you see the mayor take any money? Campbell had no visible reaction as the verdict was read. Accused of corruption during his time in office, he was convicted for tax evasion in 2006 and spent 16 months in Federal prison. Many in white Atlantas business community had never gotten over Mayor Jacksons then-radical demands after first being elected in 1973, such as that Atlanta banks add some black and female professionals to their boards if they wanted to hold city accounts. But it seems to me that the self-protective detachment Barack Obama gets criticized for by Republicans, and his steady refusal to be more black that quietly irritates so many African Americansthese are the sort of emotional devices Bill Campbell could never master. Mr. Campbell, originally sentenced to serve 30 months in prison and get out in February 2009, has completed the program and since December has been in a halfway house where he has a job and is eligible to go home on weekends, prison officials said. Campbell was later acquitted on racketeering, bribery and wire fraud charges; however, on March 10, 2006, a federal jury convicted him on three counts of tax evasion. The correspondent has obtained a Bachelors Degree in English from Spelman College as per wiki. Atlantas rates had soared throughout the 1980s and early 1990sa seemingly intractable barrier to reviving intown neighborhoods. [5] He later graduated from William G. Enloe High School.[7]. IE 11 is not supported. [2] He was the third African-American mayor in the city's history. John Rogers Jr. is the founder of Ariel Investments, LLC. Initially Campbell and his police leadership worked with students to clean up the event. Well, I never really left Atlanta; this is my home, Campbell told a TV reporter. Sam Brooks (Father), Margaret Brooks (Mother), Marion Brooks Wiki: Age, Daughters, Divorce, Salary. Wonder if they bumped into Jack Abramoff while they were down there? ), Duke University Law School (J.D.). Most notable of them was a little-known young lawyera janitors son from Raleigh, North Carolina, whod worked briefly in the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice before being elected. Since his 2008 prison release, they say he has shuttled between Atlanta and West Palm Beach. He cited Campbell's work in improving public housing in Atlanta as an example. Billy Campbell Wife is a professional architect, per the information fetched from his Instagram handle. (Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News) It only became widely known last December when news organizations wrote about her 1979 essay. Campbell a federal prosecutor beforeCampbell a graduate of two of the Souths most distinguished schools, Vanderbilt University and Duke University law school was a federal prosecutor and city councilman before getting elected mayor. SEX, CRIME AND CORRUPTION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, (This is from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but Blogger.com is acting squirrelly and I can't get the linking to work. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, Jordan Collier on The 4400, and Dr . ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who presided over the city's economic renaissance of the 1990s, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison and fined more than $6,000 for tax evasion. She is few inches shorter than her friend John Rogers who stands at the height of 1.83 meters (6'). This article originally appeared in our March 2015 issue. I think it is great if he wants to come back and use those great skills and do some positive stuff. ?? The letter veered from legalese (I, June Kay Campbell, have given my son thousands of dollars in cash gifts) to sentiment (It was done just between the two of us and I wanted you to have it, although you did not ever want it and always helped others).